The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Armed Forces are set to receive its ordered Belarusian-made MZKT-741351 hevay tank transporters by the end of 2019, that manufactures the vehicles. MZKT-741351 is a prime mover and associated trailers were specially developed to meet requirements of the United Arab Emirates designed and developed by the MZKT in Belarus. This tank transporter prime mover is designed to haul semi-trailers, transporting tanks, heavy armored vehicles or construction equipment up to a maximum weight of 76 t. The MZKT-741351 transporter has successfully passed through the tests in the UAE. The serial production of the vehicles has already been launched, and the Emirati army will take the delivery of the transporters later this year.

The MZKT-741351 is powered by an 812 hp Caterpillar C18 turbocharged engine associated to an Allison electronically-controlled automatic gearbox. The vehicle has a full-time 8×8 drive. Maximum road speed is electronically limited to 70 km/h. The prime mover is fitted with a central tyre inflation system. The unique feature of the MZKT-741351 prime mover is that it is used in conjunction with two trailers. These are MZKT-999421 6-axle semi-trailer which weights 26,000 kg and has a payload capacity of 76 tons and MZKT-837211 6-axle trailer, which weighs 18 tons and has a payload capacity of 60 tons. Combined hauled load capacity for this road train is 136 tons. So, this vehicle can transport one Leclerc main battle tank and two infantry fighting vehicles at once, for instance.

Double cab of the prime mover can accommodate the driver and 7 passengers. So the vehicle can transport some crew members of the vehicles that it carries. Alternatively the rear seats can be folded to form 2 sleeping bunks. The cab has a provision for a roof hatch with a mount for general purpose machine gun. Also the cab can be fitted with add-on armor kit. Another feature of this road train is that the vehicles can drive onto the semi-trailer directly via the trailer. So there is no need for the crew to disconnect the trailers for the loading and unloading operations. The prime mover is fitted with a double winch for loading immobile vehicles. The rear trailer has two front steerable axles.

Currently the MZKT-741351 is the most powerful tank transporters available on the market. The road train composed of the tractor plus the MZKT-999421 semi-trailer and the MZKT-837211 trailer is 42-meter long. The platform transports up to three combat vehicles. The Belarusian MZKT-741351 prime mover and associated trailers were specially developed to meet requirements of the United Arab Emirates. A pre-production prototype was first publicly revealed in 2016. It was planned that, during the same year, the prototype would be delivered to the UAE for trials. The MZKT-741351 is a revised and updated version of the previous MZKT-74135 with a different layout. The new vehicle can haul more load. Its predecessor, the MZKT-74135, was also developed to participate in the United Arab Emirates tender and eventually 40 units prime movers with associated trailers were ordered. Recent MZKT trucks are typically marketed under Volat brand.

German Company Rheinmetall will soon be modernizing part of the Bundeswehr’s fleet of Leopard main battle tanks, implementing a comprehensive array of upgrade measures. The German Federal Ministry of Defense has announced that the German parliament approved two submissions in the total amount of $484 million (€ 428 million) for increasing capabilities of the German Bundeswehr. 101 Main Battle Tank Leopard 2 variants A6M A2 and A6 are to be brought to a similar design level as the latest version Leopard 2 A7V. The aim is to adapt to the Leopard 2 A7V in terms of operation and logistics. The tanks’ systems will be standardized to make them more effective, increase protection, and allow for the exchange of crews.

Rheinmetall will be transforming a total of 101 main battle tanks, bringing them up to A7V standard. In the process, Rheinmetall specialists will be eliminating obsolescent features in the fire control computers and control consoles as well as installing a new laser rangefinder and thermal imaging device. Rheinmetall will be supplying the new L55A1 gun for the 68 Leopard 2A4 MBTs to be modernized. All upgraded Leopard 2A7V tanks will be capable of using Rheinmetall’s new programmable DM11 multipurpose round. The Leopard 2A7V is fitted with a new armored modular system for the upper front glacis plate of the hull and a more powerful Auxiliary Power Unit of the current APU used on the Leopard 2A7 model.

The Leopard 2A7V is the latest version of German-made main battle tank (MBT) in the Leopard 2 family, that was unveiled in June 2016, at Eurosatory, the international defense exhibition which was held in Paris, France. The first serially retrofitted Leopard 2 A7V tanks will reach the Bundeswehr starting in 2020. Another part of the approved allocations is allocated for the purchase of over 30,000 pieces of 155 mm ammunition for the Panzerhaubitze (PzH) 2000 self-propelled howitzer.