First modernized Ulan fighting vehicle delivered to Austrian troops

Austria’s Bundesheer received its first modernized Ulan infantry fighting vehicle and Leopard 2A4 tank at a handover ceremony in Großmittel on August 25, Austria’s Ministry of Defense announced. Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner attended the event.

The modernization program is part of a broader force-development plan the ministry calls Aufbauplan ÖBH 2032+. Work on the armored fleet began in 2023.

The Ulan fleet is undergoing a separate, comprehensive upgrade at GDELS Steyr. That work includes renewed optics and electronic components, an overhauled electrical system, and replacement drivetrain parts. Austria has said the Ulan program covers 112 vehicles at a cost of 460 million euros ($537 million). The first modernized Ulan vehicles are being delivered directly to troop units, while the upgraded Leopard tanks go to the Army Logistics Center for final adaptation work before fielding.

“With the modernized tank fleet, we are strengthening the capabilities of the Austrian Armed Forces exactly where they matter most for national military defense. Our soldiers need modern, mission-ready systems to carry out their duties. The handover of these vehicles makes the 2032+ development plan visible,” Tanner said.

The Leopard 2A4 upgrade replaces outdated components and restores the tank’s night-fighting capability. The vehicle’s turret hydraulics are being replaced with an electric drive system. KNDS Deutschland, formerly Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, is carrying out the modernization; Austria previously disclosed a contract value of 305 million euros ($356 million) covering 58 tanks.

The Leopard 2A4 serves as the primary weapon system of Austria’s tank force, relying on its main gun and engine power for mobility across varied terrain. The Ulan is the combat vehicle used by Austria’s armored infantry, built to keep pace with the Leopard across difficult terrain while carrying an onboard cannon, a squad of infantry and its crew.

Austria’s Ministry of Defense described the mechanized force, combining tank and armored infantry units, as central to the country’s conventional military defense.