Delivery of Tank and Artillery Systems and Trucks Begins in 2021
Rheinmetall is to play an important role in modernising the Hungarian Army under the terms of a recently-signed contract valued at approx. €300 million, the company announced on 30 September.
The contract covers the main armament and fire control technology for 44 LEOPARD 2 main battle tanks as well as the main armament, fire control technology and chassis for 24 PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers. The package also includes 13 HX and TGS logistic trucks. Delivery begins in 2021 and will be completed in 2025.
Rheinmetall has partnered with Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) for the project. In December 2018 KMW won an order from the Hungarian armed forces for 44 new LEOPARD 2A7+ and 24 new PzH 2000. This will make Hungary the 19th LEOPARD 2 user nation and the eighth nation to opt for the PzH 2000.
As well as having design authority, Rheinmetall is the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of the 120mm smoothbore technology used in all versions of the LEOPARD 2 tank. The same is true of the 155mm L52 main gun of the PzH 2000.
Tried and tested around the globe, the Rheinmetall 120mm smoothbore gun and ammunition have been continuously enhanced. The higher-pressure 120mm L55A1 gun earmarked for the LEOPARD 2A7+ was successfully qualified at the end of 2017, and already supplied and installed for two user nations in mid-2018. Moreover, the L55A1 tank gun is capable of firing the programmable DM11 multipurpose round.
