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Leopard 2 AEV  –  Armoured Engineer Vehicle  –  NPP/SOIQ  –  Oct 2010 Leopard Specialty Vehicle: Converting Spare Tanks into Diggers and Dozer AEVs – MERX Notice of  Proposed Procurement (NPP) This NPP is for the conversion of surplus Leopard 2A4 tanks into Armoured Engineer Vehicles. These AEVs, as replacements for the Leopard 1-based Badger AEVs, would accompany CF Leopard 2 tanks. Thirteen Leopard 2A4 hulls are to be converted (with an option on an additional five). So where will these 13-to-18 surplus hulls come from? Of the 100 surplus Leopard 2A4s bought from the Netherlands, twenty were alloted as replacements for loaned German Leopard 2A6Ms. The other 80 were accounted  for in the Tank Replacement Project LOI. But no mention of AEVs. [1]  DND bought 15 additional Leopard 2A4 tanks "for spare parts" – on top of 20 "Logistic Stock Vehicles" under TRP. Are those actually earmarked for most of  the AEV conversions? It would make sense. But then the question arises: why didn't DND simply tell that the OAG that this was their end goal rather than saying that the extra 15 hulls were just for parts? We may never know. If the 'extra' 15 are not earmarked for AEV, the only source would be the 20 Logistic Stock Vehicles. In other words, Leopard 2s meant for training would have to be robbed for spares to keep operational tanks rolling. Let us hope not. As usual, DND leaves the citizenry in the dark. But one question has a certain answer. [ Update: An NPP for Leopard 2 ARV conversions has since been published. For any outsider, ARVs add confusion on numbers.  The Force Mobility Enhancement project lists 2 ARVs with options on another 2 while the TRP LOI listed 6 ARVs for a total of 8 Leopard 2 ARV conversions (+ 2 options). But the NPP requests 8 ARVs + 4 options.] We originally stated that there was but one option for Leopard 2-based AEVs, the joint  RUAG / Rheinmetall Kodiak AEV 3 (right). That is no longer the case, FFG revealed their Wisent 2 AEV in June 2010. The process of conversion is the same for both. Leopard 2A4 hulls are stripped, a new raised armoured casement for crew is added along with attachments for the excavator arm, dozer blade, and other combat engineering equipment. RUAG has the advantage of  its Kodiak AEV 3  being the established product. [2]  FFG has the track  record of its earlier Wisent 1 and the benefits of providing AEV and ARV on the same hull. [3] The text of the AEV NPP  (as published on the MERX website)  is reproduced below: [1] The AEV 3 is actually part of  DND's  Force Mobility Enhancement Project.  Oddly, only the Armoured Recovery Vehicle conversion is mentioned in both  FME and TRP. [2] Kodiak AEV 3 conversions are already in service with or on order from Switzerland (12 Geniepanzer),  Sweden (6),  the Netherlands (10), and  trialled by the Danish Army. Average unit cost for a complete Kodiak AEV 3 conversion is €5.6M or about $7.84M. [3] On the other hand, the Rheinmetall Landsysteme ARV 3 Büffel is already in service and hull conversion type is far less important than commonality of basic running gear. ________________________________________ Leopard 2  AEV  Conversion  [ Armoured  Engineer Vehicle ]  –  MERX  Notice of Proposed Procurement ________________________________________ Reference Number                PW-$$BL-270-20517 Solicitation Number              W8476-102292/B Organization Name               Public Works and Government Services Canada                                                  Travaux publics et Services gouvernementaux Canada Source ID                               FD.DP.QC.10077.C2 Associated Components     Yes Dates Published     2010-10-06 Revised        — Closing         2010-12-22  02:00 PM  Eastern Standard Time  EST Details Category     Transportation Equipment and Spares GSINS          N2520: VEHICULAR POWER TRANSMISSION COMPONENTS Region of  Delivery  Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia,   New Brunswick, Quebec, National Capital Region, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan,   Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut Region of Opportunity     — Agreement Type                Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) Tender Type                       Notice of  Proposed Procurement (NPP) Estimated Value                  — Solicitation Method           — Notice Description Leopard 2 AEV Conversion Trade Agreement:  Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) Tendering Procedures:  Attachment:  None Competitive Procurement Strategy:  Best Overall Proposal Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement:  No Nature of  Requirement: [DND] has a requirement for the conversion of 13 Leopard 2 Main Battle Tanks (MBT) into Armoured Engineer Vehicles (AEV), plus an optional 5 MBT conversion, and associated integrated logistics support. Delivery Date:  Above-mentioned The Crown retains the right to negotiate with suppliers on any procurement  [ ... ]