The Czech Republic has advanced one of the largest armament acquisitions in its recent history. The Czech Parliament, through its Defense Committee, has given the green light for the acquisition of 76 Leopard 2A8 tanks, accompanied by additional engineering vehicles.
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This decision marks a qualitative and quantitative leap for the Czech Armed Forces, aiming at substantial modernization compared to their old T-72 tanks.
The size of this purchase is remarkable, considering that Germany, the manufacturing country, shelled out 525.6 million euros for just 18 units of the Leopard 2A8 model, which equates to a unit cost of 29.2 million euros.
However, the Czech negotiation with Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, the tank manufacturer, seems to have resulted in financially more advantageous terms.
The Czech Republic managed to negotiate the acquisition of 105 vehicles for a total amount of 2.9 billion euros, reducing the unit cost to around 27.6 million euros per Leopard 2A8.
This agreement, which falls within the framework of a German contract, not only represents a significant expansion of the Czech military capability but also considerable savings.
The delivery of the Leopard 2A8 tanks is only expected after 2025, with the production of the Leopard 2A4s to begin as early as mid-2024 and extend until the end of 2025.
Additionally, as a supplement to its fleet, the Czech Republic is also set to receive 28 Leopard 2A4 tanks and 2 Bergepanzer 3 ARRVs. This reinforcement is in part compensation for the donation of Czech armored vehicles to Ukraine, bringing the total Leopard 2A4s in the Czech Armed Forces to 42 units. Together with the 76 Leopard 2A8s, the country will have an impressive fleet of 118 Leopard 2 tanks.
This investment positions the Czech Republic prominently in the European military landscape, with a tank fleet rivalling those of powers like France and the United Kingdom. Additionally, this upgrade allows the Czechs to decommission their 30 T-72M4CZ tanks, replacing them with more modern and efficient equipment.
The Czech agreement, which also reflects a response to contemporary military needs and geopolitical dynamics, underscores the country’s commitment to the modernization and strengthening of its armed forces.
Source: defence-ua.com / This content was created with the help of AI / Photo and video: KNDS
