Norwegian Armed Forces receive 5 Leguan Leopard 2 bridge layer vehicles.

On December 4, 2023, Forsvarsmateriell (FMA), the Norwegian procurement authority, announced the delivery of five out of eight new Leguan Leopard 2 armored vehicle launched bridges (AVLBs) to the Norwegian Armed Forces. This delivery is part of a military procurement initiated in 2019, valued at €88.9 million, with the remaining three tanks expected to be delivered by 2027.
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These newly acquired Leguan Leopard 2 vehicles underwent thorough winter testing at the Norwegian Rena Camp for three weeks during the previous winter season, with positive outcomes. (Picture source: FMA)

The handover ceremony of these armored engineering vehicles, manufactured by the German-French consortium KNDS, took place at Rena military camp in Innlandet. They are intended to replace the existing fleet of AVLBs, with the final three vehicles expected to be delivered by 2027.

Brigadier Tomas Beck, Head of Land Capabilities at Forsvarsmateriell, noted the adaptability of these armored bridge vehicles to Norway's terrain. These newly acquired vehicles underwent thorough winter testing at the Rena Camp for three weeks during the previous winter season, with positive outcomes. They also have interoperability with allied nations, including those in the Nordic region, where the Leguan Leopard 2 ALVBs are already in use. This could potentially facilitate collaboration in various areas, such as training.

In addition to the vehicles themselves, the contract also includes a mobile simulator designed to facilitate training in bridge-laying procedures within a classroom setting. This simulator enables personnel to practice bridge-laying without using the actual AVLBs, aiming to reduce operational costs and preserve the ALVBs for field operations.

It's worth mentioning that the acquisition of these bridge-laying armored vehicles is part of a broader procurement program initiated by Norway, including various vehicle types built on the Leopard 2 chassis. This program comprises the purchase of 2A7NO main battle tanks, FFG's WiSENT 2 Armored Engineering Vehicles (AEVs), and WiSENT 2 Armored Recovery Vehicles (ARVs).

The Leguan Leopard 2 is a bridge-layer tracked armored vehicle (AVLB) developed by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) that combines the chassis of the Leopard 2 main battle tank with the Leguan bridge laying system. This vehicle is a progression from the older Biber system, which was mounted on the Leopard 1 chassis. The Leguan bridge-laying system is compatible with other tank chassis, and can also be mounted on various wheeled vehicles.

The Leguan Leopard 2's bridge laying system can deploy either a 26-meter bridge or two 14-meter bridges, capable of spanning obstacles of up to 24 or 12 meters, respectively. The deployment process, operable by a single individual, takes approximately 5 minutes for a 14-meter bridge and 6 minutes for a 26-meter bridge.

In terms of design, the Leguan Leopard 2 retains the Leopard 2 MBT's hull and chassis but without the standard turret, which is replaced by the bridge-laying equipment. It has a crew of two: a driver and a commander/operator. The driver's position is identical to the Leopard 2 MBT, ensuring familiarity for operators. The vehicle's protective features are similar to those of the Leopard 2 MBT.

The Leguan Leopard 2 shares the Leopard 2's engine and suspension system, featuring an MTU MB 873 Ka-501 diesel engine with 1,496 horsepower and a robust suspension system. This enables a maximum speed of 65 km/h and a range of up to 400 km.

For operations, the Leguan Leopard 2 is equipped with a distance-measuring instrument, a thermal imaging device, and a CCD camera, allowing bridge deployment in various conditions. The user interface is designed for single-operator use and includes a self-test program for system reliability. For self-defense, it is armed with a 7.62mm machine gun and is equipped with protective systems like NBC protection, a fire extinguishing system, and an escape hatch.