KNDS has completed the delivery of the final Leopard 2A7HU main battle tanks (MBTs) to the Hungarian Army.
The handover was marked by a public parade attended by Hungarian Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky and the Hungarian Armed Forces chief general Gábor Böröndi, where the 1st Armoured Brigade presented the tanks.
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
At the event, KNDS Deutschland CEO Ralf Ketzel participated alongside Mario Gall, programme manager for the project, and Peter Ulbrich, Managing Director of KNDS Hungary Kft., which is responsible for vehicle maintenance and support in Hungary.
KNDS said that all the delivered systems were handed over in accordance with the contract schedule.
The contract, signed in late 2018 also covers 24 PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers, three LEGUAN bridge-laying systems, five WiSENT recovery tanks, a simulation centre, and an extensive training and logistics package.
In a related development, Lithuania has agreed with KNDS Deutschland on constructing an assembly plant in Kaunas for up to 41 Leopard 2 A8 main battle tanks.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataThe Lithuanian Ministry of Defence formalised the agreement with KNDS Deutschland and appointed Lithuania Defense Services (LDS), a joint venture between KNDS Germany and Rheinmetall Landsysteme, as the subcontractor for implementation.
This agreement secures manufacturing and maintenance personnel training as well as logistical support for five years following initial delivery.
Ralf Ketzel said: “This contract is a clear indication that we are able to quickly and easily adapt the production of our products to the challenges facing Europe at this time. This project, in particular, perfectly embodies the spirit of close European cooperation in the field of land systems, as the contract for the LEOPARD 2 A8 systems was concluded under the framework agreement established by the German Federal Government and the German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support.”
Lithuania decided in December 2024 to acquire 44 Leopard 2 A8 tanks under the Common Procurement Agreement (CPA), making it the first state to join this collective programme.
Deliveries are scheduled between 2028 and 2030.
