Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

The Czech military to buy 14 Leopard tanks from Germany in a $167 million deal

The Czech Defense Ministry says it's planning to buy 14 Leopard 2A4 tanks from Germany in a deal worth about $167 million

Via AP news wire
Wednesday 20 November 2024 17:54 GMT
Czech Tanks
Czech Tanks ((c) Copyright 2024, dpa (www.dpa.de). Alle Rechte vorbehalten)

The Czech Defense Ministry said on Wednesday it plans to buy 14 Leopard 2A4 tanks from Germany in a $167 million deal that's part of a major modernization of the country's military amid Russia’s war against Ukraine.

The ministry said it hopes the deal, worth almost 4 billion Czech crowns or koruna, would be signed with Germany’s Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH by the end of the year, with the tanks to be delivered by the end of 2026.

Germany has already donated 28 Leopard 2A4 tanks to the Czechs in exchange for the weapons they gave to Ukraine. The Leopards will replace the obsolete Soviet-era T-72 tanks.

“We continue in the modernization of the tank forces, but also of the entire army,” Defense Minister Jana Černochová said. “It’s another step to get rid of the old Russian weapons and improve our capabilities.”

Earlier this year, the Czech government agreed to get up to 77 Leopard 2A8 tanks in a cooperation deal with several other countries led by Germany. Leopard 2A8 is the latest, most modern version of the tank while 2A4 is an older model.

Last year, the Czech government approved a plan to acquire 24 U.S. F-35 fighter jets and 246 CV90 armored combat vehicles from Sweden, among other deals.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in