Kodiak will be the new pioneer tank of the Bundeswehr

RHEINMETALL has achieved another significant success with its Pioneer Tank Kodiak. The company has been contracted by the Bundeswehr to deliver the new Armored Pioneer Machine. The Budget Committee of the German Bundestag approved a corresponding proposal on April 14, 2021. The Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology, and Use of the Bundeswehr (BAAINBw) has now signed a contract with RHEINMETALL for the production and delivery of a total of 44 Pioneer Tanks worth approximately EUR 295 million gross. The first system is scheduled to be delivered in 2023, and the order is expected to be completed by 2029. The contract also includes additional services required for training and logistics, such as training courses and tools, documentation, measuring and testing equipment, spare parts inventory, and special tools.

Rheinmetall Kodiak - a true pioneer

The Pioneer Tank 3 Kodiak is a pioneer tank developed specifically for the needs of modern pioneer forces based on the Leopard 2. Currently, there are over 40 Pioneer Tanks Kodiak in use in Switzerland, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Singapore. In addition to the Bundeswehr, other European and NATO partners have also expressed interest. Switzerland, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Singapore are also enhancing their Leopard 2 combat tank fleets with the Bergepanzer 3 Büffel - its weapons brother from the Leopard 2-based vehicle family, also developed by RHEINMETALL. HERE you can get all the technical information about Kodiak directly from Rheinmetall.

The well-balanced chassis with the 1,100 kW powerful drive package at the level of the Leopard 2A7V offers excellent mobility. With its good cross-country ability, the Kodiak can easily keep up with today's highly mobile combat units. The newly developed protection package makes it one of the safest systems of its kind.

Outstanding feature of the Kodiak is the three-part excavator arm positioned in the middle of the vehicle front. This center arm concept offers the advantage that the crew can maintain a better overview during excavation work and the vehicle can be used in narrow spaces. It also allows for a maximum working range with minimal dependence on the vehicle's orientation. This simplifies and shortens the operation, contributing to the protection and safety of the soldiers. The powerful articulated arm excavator can also be used to lift and move loads. In addition, a variety of other under-protected interchangeable tools are available.

The Kodiak also features a dozer blade with cutting and tilting angle adjustments. All interchangeable tools can be loaded onto multi-hook lift exchange pallets, which are also standard in use by the Bundeswehr.

The versatile winch system in the front of the vehicle is equipped with two independently usable winches. This allows for the highest flexibility and reliability in operation. The relatively light winch ropes can be quickly and easily guided by a soldier to an object without the need for additional tools or aids, minimizing exposure outside the highly protected vehicle.

Six cameras on the excavator, dozer blade, and front and rear sides support the three-person crew in driving and performing pioneer tasks during the day and under restricted visibility. Each crew member can display the camera image important to them on their monitor at any time. The cameras allow for tool changes and all pioneer-specific tasks to be performed under tank protection. An auxiliary power unit for power generation provides electrical energy as needed without the main engine running, while also powering the crew compartment cooling and heating system.

A true pioneer

For self-protection, the Kodiak is equipped with a 76mm caliber smoke grenade launching system at the state-of-the-art and Rheinmetall's remotely controlled weapon station "Natter". The weapon station can be equipped with either a 7.62mm x 51 or 12.7mm x 99 (.50 BMG) machine gun or a 40mm grenade machine gun.

The Kodiak is not only suitable for its original function as the main system of the combat engineer, but also for use in disaster relief operations. In early summer 2020, the Dutch Armed Forces deployed the combat engineer vehicle Kodiak, together with the Bergepanzer 3 Büffel, to combat forest and ground fires in the German-Dutch border area. All information about the combat engineer troop in the Bundeswehr.

The PiPz 3 Kodiak in portrait with all technical data - HERE you can view or download the brochure online.

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