The Hungarian Defence Forces has taken delivery of three Leopard 2A7HU main battle tanks and their first Leguan 2HU armored vehicle-launched bridge as part of a contract signed in 2018.
The ongoing program, in collaboration with KNDS Deutschland, is set to integrate up to 44 advanced tanks and associated support equipment to modernize the military’s ground-based armored firepower.
Budapest will assign the Leopards and the Leguan to the 1st Armored Brigade in the northwestern town of Tata, where all of the program’s vehicles are stationed and operate.
Throughout the effort, the vehicles will gradually replace the military’s T-72 M1 main battle tanks built during the Soviet era.
Hungary’s 2018 order includes the delivery of three Leguan 2HUs, five Wisent 2HU armored recovery vehicles, and 12 refurbished 2A4HU training tanks — all based on Germany’s proven Leopard chassis.
The package is valued at approximately $565 million, with shipments expected to be completed by 2028.
The Leopard 2A7HU and Leguan 2HU
The Leopard 2A7HU is fitted with modifications according to the Hungarian armed forces’ requirements.
It is protected by a Rheinmetall smoothbore gun, a standby machine gun, and a roof-mounted heavy machine gun.
The tank is equipped with a 1,500-horsepower engine for a range of 500 kilometers (311 miles) and a top speed of 68 kilometers (42 miles) per hour.
Meanwhile, the Leguan 2HU has a payload capacity of more than 70 tons (63,503 kilograms) and can lay a 24-meter (79-foot) bridge that can be launched into a setup of two 14-meter (26-foot) sections.
Leguan’s bridging system is remote-controlled by one person and can be positioned within five minutes.
