Bundling spare parts requirements for the Leopard tank

The procurement of defence materiel in the form of catalogued items of supply for Leopard user nations is to become easier and faster. The Bundeswehr will also benefit from this. An important milestone has now been reached with the new app-based platform “Kooperative Logistik Leopard Benutzerstaaten Frontend” (cooperative logistics for Leopard user nations – front end), or “KoopLog LEOBEN Frontend” for short.

The new interface is used to submit statements of requirements for spare parts, submit and accept bids and submit invoices for the Leopard main battle tank.

Bundling orders for better terms

“KoopLog LEOBEN Frontend” can be accessed from any device in any location. The intuitive user interface allows for a high degree of flexibility. Not only can users view the processing status including the delivery date on the go in real time; they can also retrieve invoices from anywhere in the world.  

Also, the new “KoopLog LEOBEN Frontend” can be used to achieve further synergies. For example, once the international requirements have been transmitted to the Bundeswehr system, the purchasing division at the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBwBundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr) will bundle them wherever possible. This has a positive effect on the supplier's offer price, because thanks to the bundling, larger quantities can be procured at once. In addition, the user nations benefit from the comprehensive quality assurance measures conducted within the scope of BAAINBwBundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr’s procurement of items of supply.

In the end, the improved procurement options also increase the operational readiness of the “Leopard family”.

And it will also be possible for spare parts orders for the new Leopard 2 A8 MBT to be placed through “KoopLog LEOBEN Frontend” as soon as the tank will be employed in Germany and other nations.

Test phase has already been completed

“KoopLog LEOBEN Frontend” was developed at BAAINBwBundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr upon request by the Cooperative Logistics for Leopard User States working group and replaces an outdated predecessor version. 

Since the summer of 2022, Poland and Norway have thoroughly tested the new interface for the requirements outline for all available items of supply of the Leopard weapon system family. Both nations are long-standing and experienced Leopard users and have thus been able to make important contributions.

In the meantime, the platform has also been unlocked for all other user nations. Thanks to the extensive training of procurement personnel of all user nations at the end of March 2023, the platform can now be used globally.

In May 2023, the interface was presented to an interested audience at an exhibition organised by the User Forum for Telecommunications, Computers, Electronics, and Automation (AFCEA Bonn e.V.eingetragener Verein).

by Heike Westhöfer, PIZ AIN