The Czech Republic is upgrading its military equipment: the government has decided to purchase up to 77 Leopard 2A8 tanks, which are due to be delivered to the army from 2028. The procurement is being carried out jointly with Germany, with significant involvement from the domestic defence industry.
Following a proposal by Defence Minister Jana Černochová, the Czech government agreed on Wednesday to conclude an addendum to the framework agreement on the procurement of Leopard 2A8 tanks for the Czech Army.
“Tanks are an indispensable part of our heavy brigade. With the procurement of state-of-the-art Leopard 2A8 vehicles, we are not only fulfilling our obligations to our NATO allies, but above all strengthening our own defence capabilities,” explained Minister Černochová.
In the first phase, 44 command and battle tanks are to be purchased for 32.76 billion koruna. A buffer of 5 billion koruna has been included to account for inflation and currency fluctuations. At the same time, a contract worth 1.49 billion koruna will be signed between the Czech Ministry of Defence and KNDS for the so-called “Bohemisation” of the tanks. The vehicles will be purchased at the same price as other customers – currently Germany and the Netherlands.
The purchase price for the 44 tanks includes self-protection and mine-protection systems, as well as integrated logistical support covering spare parts, maintenance management, documentation and training. The framework agreement allows the Ministry of Defence to procure up to 58 tanks in the mentioned versions; the remaining 14 tanks are an option, the purchase of which depends on the Ministry’s financial capacity.
The Czech government had already approved the first step towards joining the agreement on the joint procurement of Leopard 2A8 tanks (CPA) with Germany in June last year.
The first tanks are scheduled for delivery in 2028, with deliveries expected to continue until 2031. The joint purchase with Germany and possibly other countries will allow a reduction in the unit price, enabling the Czech Republic to acquire the Leopard 2A8 tanks on the same terms as Germany.
A key aspect of the negotiations is the involvement of the Czech defence industry. The industrial cooperation agreement will be signed with KNDS no later than the day the main contract is concluded. At least eleven Czech companies will be involved, particularly in the manufacture of individual tank components.
