The Leguan armored rapid bridge (German: Panzerschnellbrücke Leguan) is a bridge system offered by KNDS Deutschland for overcoming obstacles. It was developed by MAN Mobile Bridges GmbH (a subsidiary of Krauss-Maffei Wegmann in 2005, merged in 2006 and company dissolved).
The bridge-laying system is a further development of the laying principle of the Biber rapid tank bridge (Biber) with a lower silhouette. The Leguan system is in use worldwide, i.e. by Germany, Belgium, Finland, Switzerland, Sweden, Malaysia, and the United States, among others, with various bridge-laying vehicles.
The Bundeswehr officially calls it 'Gefechtsfeldbrücke' (battlefield bridge).[3]
The US Army planned to purchase 465 M104 Wolverine bridge-laying tanks, an iguana system based on the M1 Abrams hull. Following budget cuts, only 44 vehicles were manufactured between 1997 and 2001; the remainder was cancelled without replacement.
Design
Bridges
14-meter Leguan bridge
MLC 80: the Boxer mission-module offers a 14-meter bridge in this load category.[5]
MLC 100: as of the mid-2020s, the Leguan bridges offered can reach MLC 100 capabitlity.[6]
26-meter Leguan bridge
MLC 60: the first variant of the Leguan bridge that was transported and laid down by the initial truck variant.[7]
MLC 70: the variant of the Leguan that was supplied with the Leopard 1 and the PT-71 Twardy were in this load category.[7]
MLC 80: the Leguan offered in the 2020s are in the MLC 80 category.[8]
Carrier vehicles
In the transport position, the two symmetrical bridge halves, each 13 metres long in the 26-metre version, lie horizontally on top of each other on the vehicle's main and rear booms. To lay the bridge, the two elements are lifted and the lower half of the bridge is moved forward. After connecting the two halves, the entire fixed bridge is placed over the obstacle using the main boom. The bridge is picked up again in reverse order. During the laying process, the entire load rests on the support shield attached to the bow. According to the manufacturer, laying and removing the 26-metre bridge takes six and eight minutes respectively and can be carried out by one person using electronic controls. The 14-metre bridge can be laid in around five minutes and removed in seven minutes.
The Belgian armed forces operate the Leguan based on the Leopard 1 as AVLB, and 9 of these were purchased.[9] The quantity remaining in service is unclear.
Norwegian Army - NM190 BroleggerpanservognThe Norwegian Army had the Biber AVLB[de] system installed on its Leopard 1. In 1995, Norway signed a contract with MAN Mobile Bridges GmbH to equip 13 Leopard 1 with Leguan bridging systems.[7] A follow-up contract for 16 MLC 70 26-metre bridges signed in 1997.[7]
It is designed locally as the NM190 Broleggerpanservogn. The quantity remaining in service is unclear.
The Royal Danish Army operated the Leguan based on the Leopard 2 as AVLB. Seven systems were ordered in December 2019, the first was delivered in February 2025.[19][20]
In September 2002, Finland purchased 124 surplus Leopard 2A4 to Germany worth €200 million.[21] As part of this purchase, multiple Leopard 2A4 were allocated for modifications, 6 engineering / mine clearing variants, and 6 Leopard 2L. The Leopard 2L is the Finnish designation for the Leopard 2 Leguan, and the modifications to the Leopard 2 chasses were performed by Patria.[22] As part of a 2018 contract to purchase additional Leopard 2L, modifications to the first 6 were performed in order to be able to use various lengths of Leguan bridges.[22]
11 April 2018, order for 4 Leopard 2L systems, with deliveries taking place between 2019 and 2021.[22][23] Patria uses Leopard 2A4 that were purchased earlier by the Finnish Army. This order also includes truck based Leguan systems.[23]
19 December 2023 order for 6 Leopard 2L systems worth €23.6 million, deliveries planned for the 2026 - 2028 period. The Leopard 2 are supplied by the Finnish Army, with the Leopard 2A4 in storage, KNDS Deutschland supplied the Leguan bridging system, and Patria is performing the modifications on the Leopard 2A4 hulls, and is refurbishing them.[24][25]
The Norwegian Army signed a contract in March 2019 to modify sixLeopard 2A4 that were in the reserve into Leguan AVLB systems to replace its existing Leguan fleet based on Leopard 1. The contract also included training simulators, and a peripheral camera vision system for the Leopard 2. The first system was delivered in 2021.[36]
In 2023, the NDMA announced that 4 out of eight systems were delivered, meaning that a complementary order was placed in between.[37] The plan includes to continue using the bridges that are in the army and also the purchase of additional bridges (MLC 80).[38]
Singaporean Army - L2-AVLBThe Singaporean Army operates the Leopard 2SG, and has support vehicles based on it, such as the L2-AVLB that is equipped with the Leguan system.[39][40][41][42]
The Swedish Army modified six Leopard 2A4 that were used to train the troops before receiving the Strv 122 into Leguan AVLB.[43] The system is known locally as the Brobandvagn 120. The systems entered service in 2017-18,[44] after the contract was signed in June 2014.[7]
Swiss Army - Leguan transportThe Swiss Army ordered 12 Leguan Leguan bridging system based on the Leopard 2 as AVLB to replace the Brückenpanzer 68. The Swiss designation is Brückenpanzer Leopard (Brü Pz Leo).
The budget of CHF 179 million for the modification of 12 Panzer 87 into Leguan AVLB was approved with the Armament Programme 2014, and the last system was delivered in 2023.[45][46][47]
US Army - M104 WolverineThe US Army acquired a total of 44 M104 WolverineHeavy Assault Bridge, a Leguan system based on the M1A2 SEP chassis in a collaboration between GDLS USA and MAN Mobile Bridges GmbH.[52] Initially the USA was planning on a purchase of > 450 systems, but the budget was reduced. Later on, the US Army purchased additional AVLB based on the M1A2 Abrams chassis, but with a bridge system developed by Leonardo DRS which became the M1074 JABS.[52]
The Spanish Army received the VLPD 26/70E in the 1990s. 12 M60A1that were decommissioned were approved for transformation and the work started in 1996.[53][54][55][56]
Note: The Spanish Army transformed 1 M47E2 Patto into a M47E2 LP Leguan AVLB to be tested as a prototype before developing the VLPD 26/70E.[18][57]South African Army - Olifant ABL
Royal Netherlands Army - MAN Leguan bridge layerThe Netherlands purchased 10 second-hand systems from Norway as an interim solution, until the Leopard 2 based Leguan were purchased.[61]
Finnish Army - Sisu E15TP-L bridge layerThe Finnish Army operates a Leopard 2-based variant of the Leguan bridging system, and a truck-based variant.[65][66] The truck based variant is based on a Sisu E13TP that was extended to a 10×10 configuration, and is locally known as the Sisu E15TP-L. Although the truck is supplied by Sisu, and the bridging system is supplied by KNDS Deutschland, this variant was developed by Patria.
The Finnish Army ordered the system in multiple tranches:
9 supplied between 2004 et 2008[65] In 2018, a contract was signed to bring modifications to the system in order to enable the use of the 14-meter bridges.[65][66]
Lithuania ordered 44 Leopard 2A8 in December 2024.[69] In January 2026, Lithuania ordered 12 Leguan systems based on the Leopard 2 in order to support their operation. The order includes:[70]
KNDS Deutschland mentioned in December 2026 that Czechia interested. The Czech Army is already a client of the Leopard 2A8, and manufactures the hulls of the Leopard 2 tanks.[71]
As part of the Brückensysteme Rad MKr programme, Germany is planning to purchase a bridge layer for its medium forces. KNDS Deutschland offers the Boxer bridgelayer[72] and the Tatra Phoenix.[73]
Italy has initiated the purchase of a new generation of tanks. The project includes the purchase of 132 MBT, 140 support tanks, and an unknown number of light tanks.[74]
The project resulted in a collaboration between Leonardo and Rheinmetall, who created a consortium, LRMV (Leonardo Rheinmetall Military Vehicles)[it].[74] The vehicles selected are the KF41 Lynx that will be the base for the light tanks. The MBT and support tanks will be based on the KF51 Panther.[75]
Among the support tank, Italy plans to purchase ARV, AEV, AVLB, and potentially MCV. The Leguan could be selected to be used by the Italian Army.[76]
Spain approved a budget for 32 AVLB in September 2025. In November 2025, a contract was signed with Indra. The aim is to supply bridgelayers to the VCR Dragon combat units with 24-metre bridges. The Leguan could be selected.[77][78]
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Belgium (9)
Chile (N/A)
Greece (16)
Norway (13)
Turkey (36)
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Denmark (7)
Finland (10 + 6 on order)
Germany (31)
Hungary (3)
Indonesia (3)
Netherlands (8)
Singapore (10)
Sweden (6)
Switzerland (12)
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United States (44)
Spain (12)
South Africa (N/A)
Malaysia (5)
Venezuela (10)
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Lithuania.jpg)
Czech Republic
Italy
