KNDS Orders €130 Million Worth of Transmissions From RENK for Leopard 2 Tanks

German companies RENK Group and KNDS Deutschland have expanded their contract to supply HSWL 354 transmissions for Leopard 2 main battle tanks and vehicles in the same family.

RENK Group told Militarnyi about the deal.

The additional order is worth approximately €130 million. In addition to the HSWL 354 transmissions, the contract covers integrated TCS-354A control units and G4MA11 gear selectors.

Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2029 and conclude in 2032.

The HSWL 354 is a hydromechanical transmission with integrated steering and braking systems used in the Leopard 2.

According to RENK, the transmission has been in serial production since 1983. It is designed for tracked vehicles weighing 50–70 tonnes and engines producing up to 1,300 kW (1,800 hp).

In June, RENK began production of its 4,000th HSWL 354 transmission at its facility in Augsburg.

According to KNDS, the armed forces of 23 countries currently operate approximately 3,300 Leopard 2 tanks and vehicles of the same family.

The expanded order comes as KNDS and its partners increase production capacity for new Leopard 2 tanks.

In July, Militarnyi reported that the former Alstom railway plant in Görlitz, Germany, is being converted to produce Leopard 2 hulls and turrets, as well as components for Boxer armored vehicles.

The Leopard 2 production base is also expanding beyond Germany. In May, KNDS and RITEK opened a plant in Norway to manufacture Leopard 2A8NO tanks and delivered the first vehicles to the Norwegian Army. Serial production at the facility in Levanger is scheduled to begin in autumn 2026.