Leopard 2PL

As soon as the Polish Land Forces took over the first Leopard 2A4 tanks from the Bundeswehr in 2002, it was recognized that their modernization was necessary, however, the first efforts to develop its plan and scope did not begin until mid-2012.

The program was called Leopard 2PL and as a result of the conducted works, two variants of modernization were defined. The basic one included the introduction of an electric turret drive and gun stabilization (in place of hydraulic one), installation of an auxiliary power unit (APU), modernization of the optoelectronic system through e.g. installation of new thermal imaging cameras, modernization of the driver's seat and a new anti-explosion, fire and mine protection package.[2] The second variant was extended to also include a BMS combat management system, installation of a remote-controlled weapon stations on the turret of the tank, new types of ammunition, air conditioning systems in the driver and combat compartment, and modernization of the electronics cooling system.[4]

Finally, modernization program was included in the "Technical Modernization Plan of the Polish Armed Forces for 2013-2022" (Plan Modernizacji Technicznej) in December 2012. In early March 2013, invitations were sent to interested parties for the technical dialogue, which took place from March to August.

In October 2013, a tender was announced to select a contractor for the program. Three consortia formed to bid:

1. Wojskowe Zakłady Motoryzacyjne from Poznań, Wojskowe Zakłady Łączności Nr. 2 and Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH,
2. PCO and ASELSAN Elektronik,
3. Bumar-Łabędy, OBRUM company and Polski Holding Obronny (PHO).[4]

The final offer was submitted by the third consortium and negotiations with the Inspectorate of Armaments had started. In December 2014, the consortium submitted the final proposal based on the solutions of their foreign partner Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, but in 2015 the procedure to select the contractor was terminated due to formal deficiencies and the low participation of Polish industry in the program.

That same year, the decision was made to contract the modernization to the Polish Armaments Group (owner of Bumar-Łabędy and OBRUM). The final offer was made in November 2015, thus starting negotiations.[4]

On December 28, 2015, an agreement was signed between the Inspectorate of Armaments (Inspektorat Uzbrojenia) and a consortium consisting of PGZ and Bumar-Łabędy for the modernization of 128 Leopard 2 tanks with an option for another 14 units. The German partner of the consortium was the German company Rheinmetall Landsysteme, which in the past co-produced Leopard 2 tanks. The contract amount was 2.415 billion PLN. On June 20, 2018, an annex was signed using the option to upgrade 14 tanks, i.e. all Leopard 2A4 tanks used by the Army. The cost of the contract increased to 2.721 billion PLN.[5] The contract originally assumed that all copies of the base order would be transferred by 2020 and those from options for 14 machines by 2021.[2][6]

The original work schedule assumed that the entire work process would be divided into five stages. In the first stage for 2016, preparation of all infrastructure and resources needed for modernization were anticipated. The second stage predicted that from November 2016 to the end of 2017, dismantling of the machines and preparation for the modernization process would be carried out, while in the third stage, falling in 2018, technology transfer and staff training on a trial batch of tanks. From June 2018 to March 2019, the process of starting production and delivery of the pre-series machine to the recipient was to begin, and the last fifth stage lasting from January 2019 to November 2020 was to begin serial modernization of machines and deliveries (only machines from the first contract, i.e. 128 pieces). However, the original modernization process envisaged that the prototype in the number of one piece would be delivered by the third quarter of 2018, the test batch in the number of 5 pieces (the process of training Polish specialists and technology transfer) made in Germany would be delivered by the end of 2018, the test batch comprising 12 machines already completed in Poland, it will be delivered by the end of the first quarter of 2019, and serial production of the other machines under the basic contract is to be carried out from the second quarter of 2019 to the third quarter of 2020.[2][7]

On February 18, 2016, a detailed agreement was signed with a German partner, which specified the terms of cooperation between ZM Bumar-Łabędy and Rheinmetall. The contract assumed that the German company would be responsible for: developing the tank modernization project, preparing the necessary technical documentation together with Polish partners, making a prototype of the 2PL version car and tanks of the trial batch (five of which includes the process of training Polish specialists and technology transfer to Poland), providing ZM Bumar-Łabędy with the necessary technical support in starting production of serial wagons, providing necessary tools and transferring know-how technology. During the Eurosatory 2018 trade fair, representatives of Rheinmetall announced the completion of factory tests of the Leopard 2PL prototype tank.[8]

In August 2018, the vehicle was sent to the Military Armored and Automotive Institute in Sulejówek, where it underwent further national tests in Poland. In 2018, Reinmetall handed over to ZM Bumar-Łabędy the first pre-series copies, which opened the way to the modernization of machines already in Poland, after the positive completion of testing the prototype vehicle. The prototype tests were prolonged, which influenced the modernization of further copies and their delivery to the recipient. During the prototype testing there were also problems with the chassis, the repair of which prolonged the testing process, which meant that serial production could not be started.[9][2][10][11]

The prototype was completed on May 8, 2020. On May 28, 2020, the Polish Land Forces received the first copies from the pre-series party. The contract was extended until the end of July 2023.[12][13][14]

The contract was annexed five times, this was mainly due to not taking into account the restoration of efficiency of some tank elements, which turned out to be necessary and the different state of wear of individual copies. The final cost of the program increased to 3.29 billion PLN.[10]

Leopard 2PL is a third generation Main Battle Tank, made in cooperation with Polish Armaments Group and Rheinmetall Landsystems. The tank is designed to master and maintain the area, and support fire from deck weapons of mechanized and motorized subunits, in all weather conditions, both during the day and at night.[15]

As a result of the work, two versions of the vehicles were developed: the Leopard 2PL version, which is currently supplied to the military, and the Leopard 2PLM1, which was created by decision in 2018. The German partner is responsible for the production of the prototype variant of the Leopard 2PLM1. The vehicle was delivered in January 2021, and its tests began in February 2021.

The differences in the field of tanks in the Leopard 2PL and Leopard 2PM1 versions are that the machines in the 2PLM1 version are equipped with an EGPT compartment warning system, a system protecting the network electronics against the start-up time, modification operating modes of the laser rangefinder, an additional socket for batteries and the PIX combination, allows the commander to automatically rotate the optoelectronic head of the PERI observation and aiming device to the "six o'clock" and "twelve o'clock" position relative to the tank's hull.[16]

The first Leopard 2PL tanks were delivered to military units in May 2020. First six vehicles were delivered to the Leopard Training Center (Ośrodek Szkolenia Leopard) in Świętoszów from 10th Armoured Cavalry Brigade (10 Brygada Kawalerii Pancernej) and other two tanks were delivered to 1st Warsaw Armoured Brigade (Warszawska Brygada Pancerna) in Wesoła.[18] By the end of 2020, 12 Leopard 2PL tanks were delivered to the army.[16] By the end of 2021 the 1st Armored Brigade is the first unit to have a full company in its structures (14 tanks). Previously, the unit had a tank company in the Leopard 2A4 version of the 1st Tank Battalion. By December 2021, 20 machines were delivered.[19]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Leopard 2PL.

• Modernization of the Leopard 2A4 tanks to the Leopard 2PL version, Zakłady Mechaniczne Bumar-Łabędy s.a. (en).