Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH together with its partner RUAG Land Systems developed and built the Armoured Engineer Vehicle of the 3rd generation called KODIAK. The Kodiak/AEV 3 (Armored Engineer Vehicle 3) or Geniepanzer is a derivative of the Leopard 2 Main Battle Tank (MBT) designed to carry out combat engineer missions. It has been equipped with a dozer blade, a double winch system and excavator. A 12.7mm machine gun has been provided for self-defense purposes as well as smoke grenade dispensers.
In addition to the engineering role, the AEV 3 can perform as a minefield breaching system. Its mine-protected Leopard 2 MBT chassis and 1,100 kW-diesel engine assure outstanding mobility and a high level of protection. For self-protection, the vehicle is equipped with a remote control weapon station and smoke grenade launchers. By adapting the mine breaching kit to the Kodiak, the vehicle can be used as a mine breaching system. Among other things, this enables the Kodiak to cut through minefields and to erect or dismantle artificial obstacles.
The Kodiak/AEV 3 was introduced in 2003 and won its first production order (12 Kodiaks) from the Swiss Army in January 2007. The Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland use the Kodiak to support their Leopard 2 MBTs and to complement their previously fielded ARV 3 Büffel (“Buffalo”) armoured recovery vehicles, likewise supplied by Rheinmetall. The Swiss Army ordered 12 Kodiak tanks worth CHF 95m ($117m) in 2007. The Netherlands Army has purchased ten vehicles and the Swedish Army six. Rheinmetall delivered the first Kodiak AEV 3 S to the Swedish Army in November 2011.
