Rheinmetall demonstrates the capabilities of the Kodiak Armoured Engineer Vehicle in Poland

On 26 February 2025, Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH demonstrated the capabilities and versatility of the Kodiak armoured engineer vehicle at the commanders conference of Polish military engineer corps. Guests from the armed forces, procurement authorities and industry attended the event at the Ostrowo Krzyckie military training area.

In the first part of the event, the Kodiak demonstrated its high mobility, acceleration and speed in the terrain. It then proved its effectiveness in typical tasks of the engineer corps, which involve supporting friendly and inhibiting enemy movements. To do this, it used its excavator arm, which is mounted in the centre of the vehicle, and its dozer blade. The advantages of the design-defining centre-arm concept were also evident in the other parts of the demonstration. The Kodiak first dug an anti-tank ditch and then repaired a damaged flood dam. The highlight of the demonstration was overcoming the previously dug anti-tank ditch.

The Kodiak: a ‘real engineer’

The AEV 3 Kodiak armoured engineer vehicle is currently the only new armoured engineer vehicle based on the Leopard 2 chassis that has been specially developed for the needs of engineers. The well-balanced Leopard 2 chassis with its 1,100 kW drive system offers outstanding mobility.

Rheinmetall manufactures and sells the AEV 3 Kodiak. In addition to Switzerland, other users currently supporting their Leopard 2 main battle tanks with the Kodiak Armoured Engineer Vehicle 3 “Kodiak” and the Armoured Recovery Vehicle 3 “Büffel” (Buffalo) include Sweden, the Netherlands and Singapore. In spring 2021, the Bundeswehr also commissioned Rheinmetall to supply 44 Kodiak armoured engineering vehicles.

Conversion to the Keiler NG armoured breaching vehicle

The high degree of modularity and ultimately the convertibility of the Kodiak into an armoured mine clearance system known as the Keiler Next Generation (NG) was also demonstrated in Poland. Operational experience from the war in Ukraine shows that fighting with and around obstacles has become increasingly important on the battlefields of the future. At Eurosatory 2024, Rheinmetall presented the Keiler NG, a new heavily protected and mobile armoured combat support vehicle for quickly opening barriers in combat. This system, known as an Armoured Breaching Vehicle (ABV), meets all current tactical requirements and is highly future-proof.

Rheinmetall offers the customer two procurement options: either the mine clearance add-on kit for the AEV Kodiak is purchased, or a customised Keiler NG system is offered separately. The way in which the Kodiak can quickly and easily accept the following modular add-on kits of the Keiler NG was demonstrated by means of the exhibition of the add-on parts. These include the above-mentioned mine plough, the rocket-assisted detonation cord system ‘Plofadder’, a magnetic field duplicator and a mine lane marking system. This combination enables the Kodiak/Keiler NG to overcome even deeply laid enemy obstacles, even in difficult terrain.

More than four metres wide, the Pearson mine plough can clear mines at a rate of up to 250 metres per minute over loose ground. For firm soils, Rheinmetall Denel Munition offers the rocketassisted detonating cord system Plofadder. In just a few minutes, it can cut a 160-metre-long and nine-metre-wide path through minefields and obstacles. When used together, the two Plofadder systems alone can clear a minefield up to 250 metres deep. The integrated lane marking system shows follow-on forces the cleared lanes, even in poor visibility or at night.

Instead of an excavator arm, the Keiler NG has an integrated crane so that it can carry out retrofitting, follow-on supply or tool changes independently. For self-protection, both the Kodiak and the Keiler NG carry the ROSY quick-fog protection system and the Natter 12.7 remote-controlled weapon station.