The Visegrád Group countries, comprising the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia, have all undertaken noteworthy armoured vehicle procurement or modernisation programmes in recent years. This article provides a general overview of the Visegrád Group’s most significant land vehicle programmes to date.
Czech Republic
After numerous delays, the contract for the delivery of 246 CV90 tracked combat vehicles for CZK 59.7 billion (including VAT) was signed by the Czech Ministry of Defence (MoD) on 24 May 2023. The contract also includes 29 mobile workshops, training support, spare parts and other accessories. The Swedish manufacturer BAE Systems Hägglunds signed contracts with the following main Czech subcontractors: VOP CZ, EXCALIBUR ARMY, VR Group, Meopta and Ray Service. The leading role of the Czech industry will be played by the state-owned VOP CZ, which will serve as a vehicle integrator performing final assembly and subsequent functional tests of five of the seven variants on order.
The CV90 will be delivered to the Czech Army in these variants: infantry fighting vehicle (IFV; 141), command vehicle (31), reconnaissance vehicle (18), artillery observation vehicle (12), engineer vehicle (13), recovery vehicle (15) and medical evacuation vehicle (16). Of the total, 36 will be designated as wartime reserves. Most of the vehicles will be used by the units of the 7th Mechanised Brigade, with the first 10 vehicles due to be delivered in 2026. The first battalion should be reequipped with the vehicle in 2027, while the last CV90 is planned to be delivered in 2030.
At present, VOP CZ is performing a basic upgrade of the Czech Republic’s T-72M4 CZ tanks, which has been delayed due to technical problems with the new components of the TURMS-T fire control system supplied by Leonardo. Although 14 upgraded vehicles were due to be delivered to the 73rd Tank Battalion by the end of 2023, the unit did not receive any tanks. According to the updated schedule, 11 modernised tanks are due to be delivered in 2024, followed by a further 22 in 2025.
During 2022 and 2023, Germany donated 14 Leopard 2A4 tanks to the 73rd Tank Battalion, and one Büffel armoured recovery vehicle will be delivered during 2024. In late February 2024, the MoD announced that negotiations with Germany were underway on a further donation of the same batch of vehicles as compensation for Czech aid to Ukraine. At the same time, Prague has received an offer from German defence industry to buy 14 more Leopard 2A4 tanks and a Büffel 3 vehicle in a joint purchase on similar terms as the German MoD.
A significant increase in the combat capability of the 73rd Tank Battalion is to be achieved with the introduction of a new main battle tank (MBT), scheduled for 2027–2030. In 2023, the Czech MoD began negotiations with German officials on the joint purchase of Leopard 2A8 tanks. The Czech Army would like to buy at least 77 tanks, including derivative combat support vehicles. The Czech Republic is also interested in participating in the production and servicing of the tanks, with the MoD wishing to conclude a contract for these in 2024.
Credit: Tatra Defence Vehicle
In 2023 and 2024, deliveries of series production TITUS 6×6 wheeled vehicles were made. In 2019, 62 units were ordered, with 20 of the MKPP (fire support coordination variant), 36 of the KOVS (communication variant) and six of the KOVVŠ (command and staff variant) for units of the 4th Brigade Task Force and the 13th Artillery Regiment. The integration of electronics into all vehicles was performed by RETIA at Pardubice, while Tatra Defence Vehicle at Kopřivnice carried out the final assembly of 52 vehicles and manufactured the last 20 hulls. Between 2025 and 2027, the second phase of the acquisition of MKPP, KOVS and KOVVŠ TITUS vehicles for the 4th and 7th Brigade Task Force is due to take place.
The Czech Army plans to modernise its current fleet of Pandur II CZ 8×8 wheeled IFVs between 2027 and 2029. The modifications will include increased ballistic protection, firepower, manoeuvre capability and modernisation of communication systems. The most noticeable change will be the installation of new remote turrets. At the same time, the acquisition of new wheeled IFVs for the last battalion of the 4th Rapid Deployment Brigade – the 44th Light Motorised Battalion, currently equipped with Iveco Defence Vehicles (IDV) LMVs – is to take place. With this change, the 44th Light Motorised Battalion will be converted into a mechanised battalion.
The last major planned acquisition is the universal armoured wheeled engineer vehicle of the UKP-ŽV programme. According to a feasibility study conducted in 2021, the Thales Bushmaster 4×4 protected patrol vehicle was selected as the most suitable platform, and VOP CZ signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Thales Group in May 2023. Despite this, the MoD carried out an update of the market survey at the end of the same year without publicly identifying a specific type of preferred platform. The Czech Army is requesting up to 82 UKP-ŽV vehicles to be delivered between 2025 and 2031.
Hungary
In December 2018, Hungary placed an order for 44 Leopard 2A7HUs (also referred to as the Leopard 2A7+ standard) and 12 refurbished Leopard 2A4s. The latter arrived in 2020 and allowed tank crews of the 11th Tank Battalion, the sole Hungarian tank unit, to familiarise themselves with the German platform. The handover ceremony of the first Leopard 2A7HU tanks took place in the garrison of the 1st Armoured Brigade (former 25th Rifle Brigade) at Tata on 14 December 2023. Three more vehicles followed on 10 January 2024, bringing the total number of tanks to eight. According to the current timetable, 44 Leopard 2A7HUs, five Wisent 2HU armoured recovery and engineer vehicles, as well as three Leguan 2HU bridge layers, are to be delivered to Hungary by 2028.
Credit: Hungarian Defence Forces
On 15 December 2023, representatives of the Hungarian state defence company N7 Holding Nemzeti Védelmi Ipari Innovációs, Rheinmetall Hungary and Rheinmetall Landsysteme signed a EUR 288 million contract for the joint development of the Panther KF51 EVO tank. This is the latest variant of the Panther KF51, which will be equipped with the L55A1 120 mm smoothbore gun, an autoloader and Rheinmetall’s StrikeShield active protection system (APS). The turret architecture will enable subsequent retrofitting of Rheinmetall’s 130 mm gun if required.
In September 2020, the Hungarian MoD awarded Rheinmetall a contract to supply 218 Lynx KF41 tracked combat vehicles and associated support equipment for a total value of more than EUR 2 billion. The delivery package included ammunition, spare parts, maintenance support and simulators, as well as nine Büffel armoured recovery vehicles, nine armoured vehicle launched bridges and 38 RMMV (Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles) trucks. In the initial phase, Hungary took delivery of 46 Lynx IFVs produced in Germany. The first KF41 was transferred to the Hungarian military on 15 October 2022. The remaining vehicles will be produced in Hungary by Rheinmetall Hungary, a joint venture co-owned by Rheinmetall (51%) and the Hungarian state (49%) established at Zalaegerszeg. The 30th Armoured Infantry Brigade carried out an inaugural live-firing exercise with the Lynx KF41s in mid-September 2023.
The first Lynx to be built in Hungary rolled off the assembly line in December 2023; following functionality and performance inspections, the first Hungarian-built Lynx will be transferred to the Hungarian Ground Forces in mid-2024, and Rheinmetall Hungary is also due to deliver nine combat support vehicles. The contract originally envisaged the delivery of the Lynx KF41 in seven variants: IFV, command vehicle, reconnaissance vehicle, artillery observation vehicle, mortar carrier, ambulance and driver training vehicle. However, an eighth is in development, under a EUR 30 million contract signed on 15 December 2023, covering the conceptual development of a mobile air defence variant armed with a Skyranger 30 remote turret.
Credit: Hungarian Defence Forces
The last major Hungarian armoured vehicle programme is Gidrán, which is the Hungarian Army’s service designation for the Ejder Yalçın wheeled vehicle, manufactured by Turkish company Nurol Makina. The first 10 Gidráns, ordered in 2019 and equipped with Aselsan SARP remote weapon stations (RWSs), were handed over to the 36th Anti-Tank Missile Battalion of the 25th Rifle Brigade at Tata on 11 February 2021. An additional 40 vehicles for the 25th Rifle Brigade were ordered in December 2020. These Gidráns were completed at the Kaposvár plant, which was established jointly by Rheinmetall Hungary and HT Division. However, this facility served only for the equipping of the Turkish base vehicles with military equipment according to the requirements of the Hungarian Army.
Thus, on 31 October 2023, representatives of Rába Autóipari Holding, Nurol Makina and N7 Holding Nemzeti Védelmi Ipari Innovációs signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of a joint venture – Gidrán Páncélozott Járművek – for the production of the Gidráns at Rába truck manufacturing facility in Győr. According to the plans, 400–500 vehicles will be produced for domestic use over the next five to six years, but the Turkish–Hungarian joint venture is also aiming to manufacture 2,000 vehicles for export customers over the next 10 years.
Poland
On 27 July 2022, the Polish Armaments Agency concluded a framework agreement with Hyundai Rotem for the purchase of as many as 1,000 new K2/K2PL Black Panther tanks. In the first phase, on 26 August 2022, 180 K2 tanks worth USD 3.37 billion were purchased to equip three tank battalions, with deliveries planned in 2022–2025. The contract included training, logistics support, explosive reactive armour (ERA) packages, 500,000 rounds of 120 mm ammunition, as well as 4.3 million rounds of 7.62 mm and 12.7 mm machine gun ammunition. By mid-June 2023, Hyundai Rotem had delivered 28 tanks with the company scheduled to supply a total of 56 tanks in 2024 and 96 tanks in 2025.
Credit: Polish Army/Daniel Wójcik
The Black Panthers will be successively deployed in the brigades of the 16th Mechanised Division: 20th Mechanised Brigade, 15th Mechanised Brigade and 9th Armoured Cavalry Brigade. The deliveries of the remaining 820 vehicles for around 14 tank battalions in the Polish variant K2PL are expected to begin in 2026 and due to last until 2030. According to the framework agreement, 500 K2PL tanks will be produced at Wojskowe Zakłady Motoryzacyjne in Poznań and 320 in the Republic of Korea.
In July 2021, Poland announced the purchase of the latest M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams tanks for USD 4.75 billion in a deal that the Polish Government made clear was intended to be a deterrent against possible Russian aggression. The actual contract was signed on 5 April 2022 and included the purchase of 250 M1A2 SEPv3s, along with 26 M88A2 Hercules armoured recovery vehicles (ARVs) and 17 M1074 Joint Assault Bridge (JAB) support vehicles, as well as a training and logistics with associated ammunition – including the KE-W A1 armour-piercing fin-stabilised, discarding sabot, tracer (APFSDS-T) round and M830A1 high-explosive anti-tank multi-purpose tracer (HEAT-MP-T) round. According to the plans, the first Abrams M1A2 SEPv3s are expected to be available by the end of 2024, with deliveries completed by late 2026. The tanks are to be introduced into the inventory of the 18th Mechanised Division deployed in eastern Poland.
On 4 January 2023, after the donation of over 200 Polish T-72 tanks to Ukraine, an agreement was signed between Poland and the United States for the supply of 116 ex-US M1A1SA/FEP Abrams tanks, logistic support equipment, and ammunition for the Polish Land Forces. The value of the contract was approximately USD 1.4 billion, with part of the cost (almost USD 200 million) covered by the United States through the Foreign Military Financing programme. Along with the 116 M1A1 Abrams for two tank battalions, Poland will also receive 12 M88A2 Hercules recovery vehicles, eight M1074 joint assault bridges, six M577 command post carriers, and 26 next generation shop equipment maintenance contact (SECM) shelters. The first company of 14 tanks was delivered to Poland on 28 June 2023 and subsequently transferred to the 1st Armoured Brigade. The second user of the M1A1SA/FEPs will be the 19th Mechanised Brigade; both brigades are part of the 18th Mechanised Division.
Credit: Polish General Command of the Armed Forces
In the meantime, the Polish defence industry has been engaged in modernising Leopard 2A4 tanks. Under a contract signed in December 2015, and a separate addendum signed in June 2018 between the Armament Inspectorate of the MoD (now the Armaments Agency), and the consortium of Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa and Zakłady Mechaniczne Bumar Łabędy, a total of 142 tanks were to undergo overhaul and modernisation to the Leopard 2PL variant. The upgrade was to be completed between 2019 and 2022. However, due to limited modernisation capacity, work on the remaining tanks will take until 2027, and in the process, these are due to be upgraded to the newer ‘Leopard 2PL/M1’ standard unveiled in 2021.
By the end of 2023, a total of 62 tanks in the Leopard 2PL or Leopard 2PL/M1 standards were in service with the Polish Land Forces. The upgraded tanks are operated by the 10th Armoured Cavalry Brigade and the 1st Armoured Brigade. Additionally, the total number of Polish Leopard 2A4s to be upgraded is expected to be dropped from 142 to 128, given that Poland donated 14 Leopard 2A4s to Ukraine in early 2023.
In October 2014, the New Infantry Amphibious Fighting Vehicle Borsuk development programme was launched. Following the production and extensive trials of five prototypes, on 28 February 2023 the Polish Armaments Agency signed a framework agreement with Huta Stalowa Wola for the manufacture of 1,000 Borsuk IFVs and 400 derived combat support vehicles in 10 variants, thus making Borsuk the future standard tracked fighting platform of the Polish Land Forces. The first IFVs equipped with indigenous ZSSW-30 turrets are expected to be delivered to the 16th Mechanised Division in 2024, with the support versions following in 2026. The whole programme is scheduled to be completed by 2035.
Credit: US ANG/Staff Sgt Matthew A. Foster
The Rosomak armoured personnel carrier (APC) programme, a Polish-licensed version of the Patria AMV 8×8, is ongoing. The licence agreement for the production of the vehicles was due to end in 2023 but was extended by an annex from late September 2022 until the end of 2028. The Polish Land Forces are awaiting the delivery of 18 Rosomak-WPT technical support vehicles between 2023 and 2025 and an additional 11 Rosomak-WRT technical reconnaissance vehicles in 2024–2025, and 29 Rosomak-WEM medical evacuation vehicles will be produced during the same timeframe.
In September 2021, a contract was signed for the development and production of 11 Rosomak-RSK reconnaissance vehicles which were due to be delivered between 2028 and 2029. Moreover, eight Rosomak-WD divisional command posts, 60 Rosomak-S anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) carriers armed with Spike-LR missiles, and three Rosomak M3 patrol vehicles with OSS-D manned open-top turrets were delivered recently. In July 2022, the Armaments Agency ordered the first batch of 70 ZSSW-30 weapon stations for the retrofit to existing Rosomak IFVs equipped with HITFIST 30P turrets. The production and integration of the ZSSW-30s into the vehicles was scheduled to be carried out between 2024 and 2027, with a total of 341 turrets planned to be built for Rosomak IFVs.
One of the latest additions to the Polish defence industry is the Waran wheeled armoured vehicle, a version of the Czech PATRIOT II developed by Excalibur Army and manufactured under licence by Huta Stalowa Wola. Waran will be used in the Gladius and Ottokar-Brzoza programmes, and as a command vehicle in the Rocket and Artillery Forces. On 6 May 2022, a contract was signed for the supply of four battery sets of the Gladius reconnaissance and strike unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), along with training and logistics for PLN 2 billion. Deliveries to the 18th Artillery Regiment started in December 2022 and continued into 2023.
Credit: WB Group
The PGZ-Ottokar consortium concluded a framework agreement for the supply of an unspecified quantity of Ottokar-Brzoza tank destroyer battery sets on 20 July 2022. In 2023, the contractor delivered the initial prototype vehicles. The Waran launch vehicle variant is equipped with an elevating launcher, notionally housing six MBDA Brimstone ATGMs – however Poland has not yet confirmed selection of the missile, and Rafael’s Spike NLOS is still being offered as an alternative. An Ottokar-Brzoza battery set has been reported to comprise eight launch vehicles, a battery command vehicle, two platoon command vehicles, two reconnaissance vehicles, two transporter vehicles, two medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) vehicles, and a mobile workshop. The first user of these systems will be the 14th Anti-Tank Artillery Regiment, with initial operational capability (IOC) of the first battery set expected to be achieved by 2025.
Slovakia
On 26 September 2023, the Slovakian MoD publicly presented the first AMV XP 8×8 vehicle in the ambulance variant, which will be introduced into the armament of the Armed Forces of Slovakia in 2024. In August 2022, a contract for EUR 447 million (including VAT) was concluded for the delivery of 76 AMV XP vehicles in three variants – 60 IFVs, six command vehicles and 10 ambulances, as well as related logistics, spare parts and ammunition. The first 12 vehicles will be manufactured in Finland. The final work on all AMV XPs will be carried out in Slovakia, with the Slovak defence industrial involvement in the project expected to achieve at least 40% of the contract value. The main Slovak subcontractors are state-owned KONŠTRUKTA-Defence with its facility at Moldava nad Bodvou and CSM Industry at Tisovec. While the former will assemble the chassis, the latter will produce the hull and perform the final assembly of the remaining 64 vehicles by 2027. Moreover, the Slovakian MoD plans to buy an additional 424 AMV XPs over four phases.
Credit: Slovakian MoD
The contract for the purchase of 152 CV90 MK IV tracked combat vehicles for EUR 1.32 billion (excluding VAT) was signed by representatives of Slovakia and Sweden on 12 December 2022. The deal also included training equipment, including tactical simulators. The main Slovak industrial partner is state-owned enterprise ZTS-ŠPECIÁL, which will carry out the final assembly of 131 vehicles. Koval Systems will perform the complete production of 116 D-series turrets. Other key Slovak industrial partners include EVPÚ (mechatronics), Aliter Technologies (ICT), Ray Service and Neways (electronics), as well as Virtual Reality Media (simulators). The contract covers the delivery of CV90s in seven variants: 110 IFVs, 15 command vehicles, nine reconnaissance vehicles, three APCs for anti-materiel rifle squads, nine APCs for grenade launcher squads, three armoured recovery vehicles and three armoured repair vehicles. The first 10 IFVs are due to be delivered during 2026 with deliveries of the last CV90s scheduled to conclude in 2029. During the second phase of the acquisition, the Slovak MoD would like to order an additional 71 vehicles.
During 2022 and 2023, the 14th Tank Battalion received a donation of 14 Leopard 2A4 tanks from Germany to equip one of its four tank companies. The remaining units of the sole Slovak tank battalion use legacy T-72M1s. The Slovak MoD has not yet announced how and when it intends to acquire new MBTs. However, the MoD of the Czech Republic are trying to convince their Slovak counterparts to join the multinational purchase of Leopard 2A8s.
Within the framework of the Foreign Military Financing programme, the Slovak Army is set to obtain 160 JLTV 4×4 protected patrol vehicles from the United States. The corresponding Letter of Offer and Acceptance, valued at USD 189.94 million, was signed on 20 July 2023. Delivery of the vehicles is scheduled for 2025, with 110 M1278A1 Heavy Guns Carriers configured with remotely controlled M153 CROWS weapon stations and the remaining 50 M1278A1s equipped with manned machine gun weapon stations. The deal also includes the shipments of spare parts, maintenance tools, as well as provision of training and warranty service. The JLTVs are to be introduced into the inventory of the Slovak special forces, various combat support and service support units, as well as the Defence and Protection Battalion of the 81st Wing at Sliač air base.
Martin Smisek