The Czech Republic has completed the delivery of the last operational T-72M1 tanks to Ukraine, marking the end of the Soviet era in the country’s armored vehicle fleet. The information was published by the newspaper Hospodářské noviny (HN) and confirmed by official sources.
The last vehicles, around 20 units, were transferred between late March and early April 2025. These tanks were operational in the 73rd Tank Battalion, which now awaits the arrival of the modern Leopard 2 tanks, made in Germany, as part of a broad modernization program.
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End of a Soviet Era
After the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, the Czech Republic inherited 86 T-72M1 tanks. Some of them were modernized to the T-72M4CZ version, while others remained in their original M1 configuration. Some of these vehicles were put into reserve but were brought back into service after Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
With the completion of deliveries to Ukraine, the Czech Republic officially abandons the use of Soviet-origin tanks in its Ground Forces.
Modernization and NATO Integration
The Czech Ministry of Defense emphasized that the Soviet tanks no longer meet current combat standards and that their modernization is limited by design issues. Therefore, the country is promoting a complete reequipment of its armored fleet.
The new focus is on the Leopard 2A4 and Leopard 2A8, with deliveries scheduled between 2027 and 2029. In 2022, Prague had already acquired 28 used Leopard 2A4 tanks, restored by Rheinmetall. Later, Germany offered an additional 14 units, which could bring the total to 42 Leopard 2A4 tanks in service.
The 73rd Tank Battalion will be the first to operate exclusively with the new Leopard models, accompanied by Buffel support vehicles provided by Germany.
Local Production in Negotiation
The Czech Republic is also studying the possibility of localizing Leopard 2A8 production within its territory, an initiative that is expected to accelerate future deliveries for export and strengthen its defense industry. Companies such as Excalibur Army are expected to participate in manufacturing as part of a larger European project.
The complete replacement of the fleet with NATO models represents a strategic advancement for national defense and a clear signal of Czech alignment with NATO standards and commitments.
Sources: Militarnyi.com / archiv.hn.cz. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
