Rolls-Royce Lands 300+ Engine Order to Power New European Leopard 2 Fleets
KNDS has awarded Rolls-Royce a contract to supply mtu MB 873 Ka-501 engines for European Leopard 2 main battle tanks.
The agreement covers over 300 sets of the propulsion system to be integrated into vehicles destined for Germany, Lithuania, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic.
Rolls-Royce’s Power Systems division is scheduled to begin deliveries in 2026.
The deal follows a sharp rise in military engine orders, with government procurement accounting for a quarter of Power Systems division turnover last year.
“This order is not only one of the largest of its kind in recent decades, but also reflects the challenging security situation we find ourselves in,” Rolls-Royce Power Systems CEO Dr. Jörg Stratmann stated.
“We have recently significantly expanded our capacity for the development and production of urgently needed mtu drive systems for military vehicles and will continue to expand it significantly in order to contribute to improving security in Europe and around the world.”
Powering Europe’s ‘Benchmark’ Tank
The MB 873 Ka-501 is a liquid-cooled, 12-cylinder diesel engine delivering an output of around 1,500 horsepower.
In the Leopard 2, it supports road speeds of approximately 70 kilometers (43 miles) per hour and a range of 340 kilometers (211 miles).
Knut Müller, senior vice president of government business at Rolls-Royce, said the recent MB 873 order demonstrates “the high level of confidence that European land forces have” in the systems, adding that the Leopard 2 remains the “benchmark for heavy combat vehicles” due in part to its “extremely reliable” mtu propulsion technology.
“It therefore goes without saying that both the complete Series 873 drive and the necessary spare parts will continue to be available in the future for as long as is necessary for the operation of the immense Leopard fleet,” Müller said.
“Our developers are working on drive systems for the armoured land vehicles of the future and increasing the performance of existing drives in order to meet the armies’ growing demands on modern combat vehicles.”
