KMW of Germany will deliver 12 Leguan bridge layers on Leopard 2 chassis to Swiss army 1401155

Defence & Security Industry News - Krauss-Maffei Wegmann
 
 
KMW of Germany will deliver 12 Leguan bridge layers on Leopard 2 chassis to Swiss army.
On 15 December 2014, the Swiss Defence Procurement Agency and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) signed a contract for the purchase of twelve Leguan bridge layers on a Leopard 2 chassis together with the associated peripherals and training equipment in Berne.
     
On 15 December 2014, the Swiss Defence Procurement Agency and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) signed a contract for the purchase of twelve Leguan bridge layers on a Leopard 2 chassis together with the associated peripherals and training equipment in Berne. Based on the chassis frame of the LEOPARD 2 the system was continuously adapted so as to by deployed globally and according to the requirements of missions abroad.
     
This brings to 16 the number of countries now using the Leguan system. As a major initiator of the Leopard 2 chassis variant, the Swiss Army is now one of four to be using these bridge layers.

The bridge laying system LEGUAN Leopard 2 is the consequent and continued development of the armored bridge layer BIBER. Mounted on the chassis frame of the LEOPARD 1 the BIBER has been in service with the German Army since the 1970ies.

The system is capable of laying one 26-metre bridge or two separate bridges, each 14 metres in length. With a carrying capacity of around 70t (MLC 80), the bridge allows very heavy equipment to be used. The widespread use of the system results in very good interoperability.

The laying system has been designed in such a way that, when changing from a 26 to 14 meter bridge, no retrofitting is necessary. The laying process requires no further adaptations to the vehicle.

This versatility, coupled with the unique protection and mobility characteristics of the Leopard 2 chassis, enables the Leguan to also be used for civilian purposes, for example, to quickly restore supply routes after natural catastrophes.