Two more Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks arrived in Praslavice, Czech Republic. This is another part of the donation of 14 tanks and one recovery vehicle that the Czech Republic received from the Federal Republic of Germany for helping Ukraine. The first main battle tank already passed military tests a month ago, so there is nothing to prevent the deployment of new units for training. In addition to the aforementioned 14 main battle tanks and one rescue vehicle, the delivery will also include an initial package of spare parts, ammunition, and three-year service support from the supplier, which also includes the training of Czech Army soldiers.
“As the soldiers like to say, and quite truthfully, there is no army without a heavy brigade. That’s why I’ve had a heavy part-time job among my priorities since the beginning. The signing of the contract for the CV90 infantry tracked combat vehicles is approaching, and together with other pieces of Leopard tanks, it is a clear shift towards an army equipped with modern Western technology. Leopard tanks also mean a significant strengthening of compatibility within NATO. This technique is also used by our close neighbors, for example, Poland and Hungary.,” said Minister of Defense Jana Ernochova.
Under the German government’s “Ringtausch” equipment exchange programme, Rheinmetall will soon be supplying the Czech Republic with main battle tanks and other military hardware. The “Ringtausch” is a procedure developed by the German government in cooperation with Germany’s neighbours and NATO allies to support Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. The order includes ammunition as well as a service package encompassing training and spare parts. Working in close cooperation with the German Ministry of Defence and the Czech authorities and armed forces, Rheinmetall swiftly negotiated the necessary contracts.
The Czech Republic received tanks from the Federal Republic of Germany as partial compensation for its assistance to Ukraine. The value of the gift is almost 4 billion CZK. In October 2022, representatives of the Ministry of Defense of the Czech Republic signed a series of contracts related to supply with German partners. It was a Memorandum of Understanding, an Implementation Agreement for Training, an Administrative Arrangement, and an Agreement on the Supply of Tanks. The remaining 11 battle tanks should be delivered to Praslavice by the end of this year. The Buffalo armoured recovery vehicles is mounted on an improved Leopard 2 chassis, will be ready by mid-2024.
