Rolls-Royce & FFG to Upgrade Wisent 1 & Leopard 1 Engines

Rolls-Royce and FFG Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft, supported by ZF, are developing a concept to remotorise all variants of the Leopard 1 family with a type 8V199 mtu engine to replace the MB838 mtu engine, which is no longer in production By Joseph Macey / 17 Sep 2024

Discover Leading Defense Technology Solutions

Discover cutting-edge solutions from leading global suppliers
SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT
Rolls-Royce & FFG to Improve Wisent 1 & Leopard 1 Tank Engines
Follow DA

Rolls-Royce and FFG Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft, with the support of transmission specialist ZF, are jointly developing a concept for the long-term and economical repowering of the Wisent 1 support vehicle and all variants of the Leopard 1 family.

The plan is to replace the existing mtu MB838 engine, which is no longer in production, with a more modern mtu 8V199 engine. This project, which both companies presented at the RÜ.NET user forum in Koblenz, offers the opportunity to modernize the vehicles in line with current requirements, while at the same time improving their performance.

Knut Müller, Senior Vice President Global Governmental at Rolls-Royce Power Systems, said; “Our mtu Series 199 engines have been setting standards in terms of performance, reliability and economy for years. The new 800 kW version is the perfect drive solution to ensure that the vehicles in the Leopard 1 family can continue to be operated efficiently in the future. At the same time, we are tapping into a sales market that will support growth in our strategic business segment of public authorities.”

The Leopard 1 main battle tank, which dates back to the 1960s, and special vehicles based on it, such as the BPz2 armoured recovery vehicle, the Biber armoured bridge-laying vehicle, the Dachs armoured engineer vehicle and the Gepard, are still in reliable service with user states in large numbers today. The Wisent 1 support vehicle developed by FFG is the latest Leopard 1 variant to benefit from this upgrade. The German Bundeswehr also still has special variants in service. Replacing the Leopard 1 fleets with more modern vehicles is not financially viable for many armies, which is why there is a need to preserve them for long-term use.

The mtu Series 199 is tried and proven in many military vehicle types and is known from the “Boxer” vehicle family, among others. The use of the 8V199 offers numerous advantages, with an output of 800kW, the engine is not only 190kW more powerful than the original engine. It is cheaper, lighter, more economical, has longer service intervals and a longer service life. This saves costs and improves the vehicle’s performance and availability. In addition, there are logistical advantages such as simplified storage of spare parts for armed forces already using Series 199 engines.

FFG will develop and manufacture a power pack based on the mtu 8V199 and is also responsible for the cooling concept and interface adaptations to the overall system. The aim is a plug-and-play solution for all variants. The Flensburg-based company has extensive experience in upgrading Leopard 1 variants. Together with ZF, FFG will also ensure the stability and long-term security of supply of the 4HP250 transmission. To this end, ZF will ensure continuous further development of the 4HP250 and provide technical support for operation with the 8V199 engine.

Jörg Kamper, Managing Director of Flensburger Fahrzeugbau-Gesellschaft, added; “This concept will be an excellent opportunity for many armies to adapt to the changed security situation at a reasonable cost and within a manageable period of time.”

Find Military Engine manufacturers > >

Posted by Joseph Macey Connect & Contact

Latest Articles

Enhancing Border Security with the Sentinel Counter-Drone System

Alpine Eagle outlines the capabilities of its Sentinel counter-drone system to target the rising threats of weaponized drones at borders and critical infrastructure, leveraging AI-driven drone swarms to detect, track, and intercept UAS in real-time

Feb 10, 2025
Military Trial Showcases Robot Dog for Bomb Disposal

Robotic canines were used in a recent bomb disposal trial by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), aiming to minimize the dangers faced by military personnel and improve operational effectiveness

Feb 10, 2025
Teledyne FLIR Unveils Software Solution to Enhance UAS Automation & AI Capabilities

Teledyne FLIR introduces Prism Supervisor, enhancing UAS capabilities by integrating autopilot systems with AI-driven analytics, enabling real-time mission adaptation, automation, and synchronized multi-UAV operations for improved efficiency and success

Feb 10, 2025
U.S. Navy Navigation Capabilities Enhanced with Upgraded INS/GPS Technology

Northrop Grumman’s LN-251M upgrade enhances the U.S. Navy’s airborne navigation with advanced M-code technology, offering improved resistance to GPS jamming and spoofing threats

Feb 10, 2025
U.S. Army Orders Advanced Manpack & Leader Radios to Equip Soldiers

The U.S. Army has awarded L3Harris Technologies with full-rate production orders for its Manpack and Leader radios, delivering secure, resilient battlefield communications for soldiers

Feb 07, 2025
XENTA Air Defense Radar Upgraded with Cambridge Pixel Software

Cambridge Pixel has delivered a high-performance radar control and display system for Weibel Scientific’s XENTA surveillance radar, enhancing tracking, control, and integration capabilities

Feb 07, 2025

Featured Content

Creomagic Demonstrates Secure Backhaul Technology for Tactical Communications

Creomagic has successfully demonstrated a robust and secure backhaul solution for mobile LTE base stations, leveraging its CreoLand MANET technology in collaboration with a key defense partner

Feb 06, 2025
Greensea IQ Expands Defense Leadership with Record Growth

After successful contracts for the Bayonet AUGV with the US Navy, US Marine Corps, and foreign militaries, Greensea IQ has closed a record-breaking year of growth in 2024

Jan 31, 2025
Latest Software Bundle Released for ISR Quadcopter

PDW CORE is the latest software package from PDW featuring a user-friendly touch interface, a PDW flight simulator, mission planning tools, an ATAK plug-in, and a laptop-compatible C100 updater

Jan 30, 2025
Revector’s Latest 4-Channel Covert Solution for Tactical Operations

Revector’s newly launched IMSI locator, the 4-channel Portable Covert Unit 2.0, delivers improved performance, flexibility, and rugged design, tailored for demanding security, defense, and search-and-rescue operations

Jan 27, 2025
Galvion Releases New Helmets for Military & SAR

Galvion is exhibiting new helmets at SHOT Show 2025 in Las Vegas, The Batlskin Hellbender TE (Tactical Edition) and the Batlskin Caiman SAR (Search and Rescue)

Jan 23, 2025
What is MIL-DTL-38999?

Micropol breaks down the definition, benefits, and roles of the MIL-DTL-38999 connector, a robust and reliable cornerstone in modern military and aerospace connectivity

Jan 21, 2025