DEFEA 2025 – A new life for the Hellenic Army Leopard 1s from EODH?
With 500 Leopard 1 still in service the Hellenic Army is the bigger user of the legacy Krauss-Maffei Wegmann main battle tank (MBT), which has been for long the most widely used MBT among European NATO armies until the appearance of its successor, the Leopard 2. Will the service decide for an upgrade that would give a new life to this legacy Cold War-era tank?
While fielding around 350 Leopard 2 in the 2A4/GR and 2A6HEL versions, for which it is also considering an upgrade programme, Greece does not intend getting rid of its huge fleet of 105 mm gun tanks, therefore an upgrade programme is also being taken into account. Currently the only proposal comes from EODH, the Thessaloniki-based company specialised in protection, but which has expanded its reach to upgrade programmes and more. In fall 2024 MTU informed KNDS Deutschland, previously known as Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, that it would stop supporting the MB 338 CaM 500 10-cylindre 830 hp installed on the Leopard 1. One more problem to be solved if Greece wants to keep its Leo 1s operational.
In this upgrade operation EODH would be the prime contractor, but two more companies would cooperate, Duma Engineering from Spain and KNDS Deutschland, the Leopard 1 original equipment manufacturer (OEM).
In fact EODH had started considering the upgrade issue well before the MTU decision, and one year ago it made its proposal to the Hellenic MoD, which included the adoption of a new 1,000 engine as well as a new transmission, the chassis becoming also fully digitised.
Based in Madrid, Duma provides engineering and manufacturing solutions in many fields, among which defence, and is therefore a key partner to EODH for solving many issues linked to this upgrade programme. As for KNDS Deutschland, the company would support the Greek prime providing drawings and spare parts, as well as testing the final product.
The turret upgrade includes numerous improvements among which double fire control for both the commander and gunner, each having a joystick and a display linked to the vehicle computer. EODH also offers a Thales command and control system as well as new generation multi-channel radios to allow voice and data communications towards lower and higher echelons. Another add-on part of the offer is the commander’s independent panoramic sight; also designed by Thales, it is integrated into a Duma mount that hosts a machine gun and can also be fitted with an anti-drone jammer, which can therefore be aimed in azimuth and elevation independently from the turret, weapons and jammers being obviously provided by third parties.
When the turret design was almost finalised, the MTU decision obliged EODH and Duma Engineering to consider the engine replacement.
Protection increase was obviously an EODH issue; although no details are provided on the protection level, this should clearly go up one or two notches, a series of passive/reactive armour modules being shown on the wall of the EODH stand, attached to an image of the Leopard 1HEL, as the upgraded tanks is called. Overall the MBT combat mass would increase from 42 to 46.5 tonnes, however considering the output of the new powerpack the power-to-mass ratio is increased from around 19.6 hp/t to 21.5 hp/t. To cope with the increased load, suspensions have to be strengthened. EODH proposes two options; one is based on torsion bars of new generation, a simple and robust solution which EDR On-Line understood is the one preferred by the Hellenic Army. Should a customer prefer a smoother ride, which also helps main gun stabilisation, hydraulic suspensions can be provided. The programme also includes a new track system.
The only crew member located in the chassis, the driver, has a wholly new working place, as not only the Leopard 1 HEL features a digital cockpit, but it is also fitted with a drive-by-wire system. The driver can recall on his screen the views from the front and rear cameras to help him when operating in reduced spaces.
The chassis will also host a new set of batteries, which replace the current eight old generation batteries. EDR On-Line understood that the Hellenic Army is still considering Lithium-Ion batteries potentially dangerous, hence new generation lead-acid batteries might be retained, although the issue seems to be still open. However the key element in the electric powerplant is the battery management system, which controls the recharging cycles in order to optimise them to exploit to a maximum the batteries capacity and to increase their life.
The new electric plant allows plugging the MBT to external power sources. This permits to use the tank in barracks without revving up the engine, injected simulation allowing training crews in their own MBTS for maximum realism, as the commander and gunner will train on the real fire control system, in the real turret, with the real screen and joystick. All this is allowed by the new open architecture which is the backbone of the upgraded MBT.
Last but not least, EODH proposes a reconnaissance VTOL drone that can take-off and land at the back of the turret, providing an advanced reconnaissance capability that further increases situational awareness and survivability.
EODH awaits a decision from the Hellenic Army. Following recent announcement on the boost on defence expenditures the chances that the Leopard 1HEL programme may be financed have increased, however considering the numerous upgrade and acquisition programmes aiming at improve the effectiveness of the Greek land military instrument, only the new plans that should be decided soon by governmental authorities will say which will be the top priorities.
Photos by P. Valpolini
