FFG from Germany signs contract with Norway to deliver engineer and recovery tracked vehicles.

On June 29, 2023, the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency, Forsvarsmateriell, and German vehicle specialist Flensburger Fahrzeugbau GmbH (FFG) signed a contract for the acquisition of eight WiSENT 2 Armoured Engineering Vehicles (AEVs) and three additional WiSENT 2 Armoured Recovery Vehicles (ARVs). The delivery of these vehicles is expected between 2026 and 2027.
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Leopard-based WiSENT 2 Armoured Engineering Vehicle (AEV) (Picture source FFG)

According to Tomas Beck, the Chief of Land Capabilities at Forsvarsmateriell, the acquisition of these vehicles will enhance the Norwegian Army's armoured support vehicle fleet. Additionally, Øyvind Kvalvik, the Director of Investments at Forsvarsmateriell, states that these vehicles will serve as replacements for the previously donated units to Ukraine, which included three AEVs and one ARV.

This contract serves as an extension of two preexisting agreements between Norway and FFG. In total, the contracted quantity will now comprise 14 AEVs and 9 ARVs. The overall value of the contracts is approximately EUR 29 million for the recovery armored vehicles (ARVs) and EUR 80 million for the engineering armored vehicles (AEVs).

The WiSENT 2 is an engineering and recovery armored vehicle designed to support combat units. It is built on the Leopard 2 main battle tank (MBT) chassis, offering modularity for quick reconfiguration as an AEV, ARV, mine-clearing vehicle, or armoured bridgelayer in under five hours. Additionally, this shared platform provides advantages in terms of logistics, spare parts, and service/repair procedures.

With a maximum weight of 69.6 tons, the WiSENT 2 is equipped with a 1,100 kW multifuel engine, enabling it to achieve a maximum speed of 68 km/h. It offers standard armor protection meeting NATO STANAG 4569 Level 5, and the option to install additional modular add-on armor, ensuring crew protection from NBC and mines. The vehicle is capable of traversing challenging terrains, with a gradient capability over 60% and a vertical step capability of up to 1.1 meters.

The Armoured Engineering Vehicle (AEV) is equipped with a hinged arm excavator and a high-performance dozer blade, enabling efficient earth-moving work and obstacle clearance.

The Armoured Recovery Vehicle (ARV) configuration of the WiSENT 2. The ARV features a compartmental and modular design, allowing for quick reconfiguration and mission-specific adaptations. It is equipped with a rotating boom crane capable of recovering distressed vehicles weighing up to 32 metric tons

Both the AEV and the ARV are equipped with a 40-ton constant-pull internal main winch and a 2.3-ton auxiliary winch, providing robust recovery capabilities.