KNDS has selected Rolls-Royce to supply mtu MB 873 Ka-501 engines for European Leopard 2 main battle tanks.
The contract includes more than 300 engine systems for integration into tanks bound for Germany, Lithuania, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic.
Rolls-Royce’s Power Systems division is expected to begin deliveries in 2026.
This order comes amid a significant increase in military engine demand, with government procurement representing roughly one-quarter of the division’s revenue last year.
The MB 873 Ka-501 is a liquid-cooled 12-cylinder diesel engine that produces about 1,500 horsepower.
When installed in the Leopard 2, it enables road speeds of around 70 kilometers (43 miles) per hour and a range of 340 kilometers (211 miles).
