Rolls-Royce receives major order to supply more than 300 Leopard 2 engines
December 08, 2025
- Tank manufacturer KNDS orders mtu Series 873 engines for new battle tanks to equip several land forces in Europe
- Proven engine for one of the world’s best battle tanks
- Supply of complete drive systems and spare parts secured for the long term
- Tense security situation leads to significantly more orders for military engines
Rolls-Royce has received a major order from defence company KNDS to supply more than 300 mtu MB 873 Ka-501 engines for new Leopard 2 battle tanks. The drive systems are intended for vehicles that several European countries, including Germany, Lithuania, Sweden, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, have ordered from KNDS for their armies. Delivery is already planned for 2026.
Dr Jörg Stratmann, CEO of Rolls-Royce Power Systems AG, said: “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. 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.”
The changed threat situation has led to a significant increase in demand for mtu engines and drive systems from Rolls-Royce. The share of government business, which largely comprises supplying the armies of Germany, NATO and allied countries, contributed a quarter of Rolls-Royce’s Power Systems division’s turnover last year.
Knut Müller, Senior Vice President for Government Business at Rolls-Royce, said: “The large order volume for our mtu engines reflects the high level of confidence that European land forces have in this vehicle. Not least because of its integrated and extremely reliable mtu drive system, the Leopard 2 continues to be regarded as the benchmark for heavy combat vehicles. 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. At the same time, 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.”
In mid-November, KNDS presented the first examples of the latest model variant of the Leopard 2, the 2A8, in the presence of German Defense Secretary Boris Pistorius. Among other things, it features new armour and improved drone protection.
Photo courtesy Rolls-Royce
