ELBO Leonidas-2
Encyclopedia
The Leonidas-2 represented an effort made by the Greek
vehicle manufacturer ELBO
to produce an advanced armoured personnel carrier
of its own. It is named after Leonidas, the king of the ancient city-state
of Sparta
. The first version of the Leonidas was the Austria
n Saurer 4K 4FA
Armored Personnel Carrier built with minor modifications by the Greek company from 1981 until 1987 (when it was still called Steyr Hellas S.A.). Initial production was essentially assembly, however Greek content progressively increased up to real manufacture. The APC had a 320hp engine and a weight of 14.8 tons.
The 'Leonidas-2' development involved extensive modification of the previous model, done by ELBO
itself in 1987 with the aim to essentially develop it as an Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle (AIFV). The new version had a weight of 18.8 tons and it used a 450hp engine; maximum speed was 70 km/h. The construction of the turret became a matter of debates involving interested companies (three versions with different types of turrets were proposed, while there were "demands" that the turret should constructed by EBO), but the vehicle was finally produced without turret. About 700 were produced, including a number exported to Cyprus
. Plans to develop further the vehicle as 'Leonidas-3' for different roles were abandoned in 2002, as the vehicle was considered outdated. ELBO
continued efforts for a modern AIFV development, starting cooperation in 1988 with Steyr-Daimler-Puch
of Austria
on a joint development, but soon pulled out due to the high cost of the vehicle compared to the Greek Army specifications (Santa Barbara of Spain
continued development with the Austria
n company, resulting in the Ulan/ASCOD Pizarro AIFV). Eventually ELBO
moved entirely on its own, developing a completely new Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle, introducing Kentaurus
in 1998.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
vehicle manufacturer ELBO
ELBO
ELBO , is a Greek vehicle manufacturer based in Thessaloniki...
to produce an advanced armoured personnel carrier
Armoured personnel carrier
An armoured personnel carrier is an armoured fighting vehicle designed to transport infantry to the battlefield.APCs are usually armed with only a machine gun although variants carry recoilless rifles, anti-tank guided missiles , or mortars...
of its own. It is named after Leonidas, the king of the ancient city-state
City-state
A city-state is an independent or autonomous entity whose territory consists of a city which is not administered as a part of another local government.-Historical city-states:...
of Sparta
Sparta
Sparta or Lacedaemon, was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, situated on the banks of the River Eurotas in Laconia, in south-eastern Peloponnese. It emerged as a political entity around the 10th century BC, when the invading Dorians subjugated the local, non-Dorian population. From c...
. The first version of the Leonidas was the Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n Saurer 4K 4FA
Saurer 4K 4FA
The Saurer 4K 4FA is an Austrian armoured personnel carrier with caterpillar tracks. It was later replaced by the Steyr 4K 7FA G 127. It went into production in 1961. In 1956, Osterreichische Saurer-Werke of Vienna started development of an armoured personnel carrier...
Armored Personnel Carrier built with minor modifications by the Greek company from 1981 until 1987 (when it was still called Steyr Hellas S.A.). Initial production was essentially assembly, however Greek content progressively increased up to real manufacture. The APC had a 320hp engine and a weight of 14.8 tons.
The 'Leonidas-2' development involved extensive modification of the previous model, done by ELBO
ELBO
ELBO , is a Greek vehicle manufacturer based in Thessaloniki...
itself in 1987 with the aim to essentially develop it as an Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle (AIFV). The new version had a weight of 18.8 tons and it used a 450hp engine; maximum speed was 70 km/h. The construction of the turret became a matter of debates involving interested companies (three versions with different types of turrets were proposed, while there were "demands" that the turret should constructed by EBO), but the vehicle was finally produced without turret. About 700 were produced, including a number exported to Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
. Plans to develop further the vehicle as 'Leonidas-3' for different roles were abandoned in 2002, as the vehicle was considered outdated. ELBO
ELBO
ELBO , is a Greek vehicle manufacturer based in Thessaloniki...
continued efforts for a modern AIFV development, starting cooperation in 1988 with Steyr-Daimler-Puch
Steyr-Daimler-Puch
Steyr-Daimler-Puch was a large manufacturing conglomerate based in Steyr, Austria, which was broken up in stages between 1987 and 2001. The component parts and operations continued to exist under separate ownership and new names.-History:...
of Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
on a joint development, but soon pulled out due to the high cost of the vehicle compared to the Greek Army specifications (Santa Barbara of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
continued development with the Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n company, resulting in the Ulan/ASCOD Pizarro AIFV). Eventually ELBO
ELBO
ELBO , is a Greek vehicle manufacturer based in Thessaloniki...
moved entirely on its own, developing a completely new Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle, introducing Kentaurus
ELBO Kentaurus
Kentaurus is an Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle designed and developed by the Greek vehicle builder ELBO. Its history is connected with the need for an advanced AIFV by the Greek Armed Forces. The vehicle takes its name from the Greek word for Centaur the creature from Greek mythology...
in 1998.
Leonidas production
| Year | Origin of order | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Greece | 2 | Leonidas 1 version. 2 prototypes delivered from Austria for testing |
| 1981 | Greece | 100 | Leonidas 1 version. Delivered between 1982 and 1983, originally only assembled in Greece, progressively Greek participation increased (including manufacture of certain parts) |
| 1986 | Cyprus | 56 | Leonidas 2 version. 16 produced in Austria, 40 in Greece. |
| 1987 | Greece | 344 | Leonidas 2 version. Produced in Greece. |
| 1993 | Cyprus | 76 | Leonidas 2 version. Produced in Greece. |
| 1995 | Cyprus | 65 | Leonidas 2 version. Produced in Greece. |
| 1998 | Greece | 57 | Leonidas 2 version with new automatic transmission. Produced in Greece. |
| Total | 700 | 503 vehicles delivered to Greece. 197 vehicles delivered to Cyprus. |