NSPA (NATO Support and Procurement Agency) has successfully completed Dismantling and Disposal of 483 Leopard 1 Main Battle Tanks, generating a revenue of 2.7MEUR. The project thoroughly followed all steps of the dismantling and disposal processes in compliance with the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) standards. The Leopard 1A2 Main Battle Tanks, with the 105mm cannon, were processed through on-site demilitarization and dismantling. Despite Covid-19 mandated work restrictions, the project was achieved within schedule and scope.
More than 24 tons of iron/steel and non-ferrous metals were recovered from each tank and sold on the global scrap metal market.Activities also included the professional identification, removal and treatment of hazardous material. Each Leopard 1A2 contained for example waste fuel and oil, lead batteries and 22 kg of asbestos. Eventually, this project yielded a total return of approximately 2.7MEUR or 5,500EUR per tank for the owning country (scrap metal sales minus disposal costs related to labor, hazmat treatment, transportation, etc.).
For the first time, NSPA requested a detailed record of the contained materials, their quantities and sales prices. This project demonstrates NSPA’s capability and value for Member Nations of the Demilitarization, Dismantling and Disposal (D3) Support Partnership. NSPA can support user nations’ surplus offices by providing tailored D3 expertise, strategic planning and actual execution through a global contractor framework. Such support is equally available to non-Member Nations.
The Leopard (or Leopard 1) is a main battle tank designed and produced by Porsche in West Germany that first entered service in 1965. Developed in an era when HEAT warheads were thought to make conventional heavy armour of limited value, the Leopard focused on firepower in the form of the German-built version of the British L7 105-mm gun, and improved cross-country performance that was unmatched by other designs of the era.. The Leopard 1A2 included a heavier and better armoured turret, and therefore did not receive the B&V armour add-ons as did the earlier machines.
