Rheinmetall announced that it will deliver a further 14 Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks (MBTs) to the Czech Republic following the signing of a contract between Björn Bernhard, CEO of Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH, and Lubor Koudelka, Director General of the Armaments and Acquisition Division of the Czech Ministry of Defence.
The agreement, which is valused at EUR 161 million, entails the provision of 14 refurbished Leopard 2A4 MBTs, scheduled for delivery by the conclusion of 2026. It also includes a comprehensive package for ammunition and logistics. These tanks will be primarily sourced from former Swiss inventories and will be modified to meet a Czech-specific configuration as part of the initiative.
The newly signed contract serves as an addition to the two pre-existing ring swap agreements, through which the Czech armed forces have previously received Leopard 2A4 tanks while transferring older equipment to the Ukrainian armed forces. The recently established ammunition and logistics package aims to ensure the operational readiness of the fleet, which will ultimately consist of 42 Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks and two Büffel 3 armoured recovery vehicles, maintaining a high standard of capability.
With the initiation of this procurement, the Czech armed forces are finalizing the transition of their 73rd armoured battalion from Soviet-era tanks like the T-72 to German main battle tanks.
During a recent training exercise with the Leopard 2A4, Corporal Miroslav Černý of the 73rd armoured battalion remarked on the distinct operational characteristics of the Leopard compared to the T-72: “It has an automatic transmission and a much better chassis, so it is more stable and easier to control even in difficult terrain. It rides smoother, you don’t feel every stone like you do with older tanks.”
Lieutenant-Colonel Tomáš Suchý, commander of the 73rd armoured battalion, stated that the modern on board equipment not only makes navigation easier even in unfamiliar terrain, but also significantly increases the combat effectiveness of the crew and that the ability to quickly and accurately determine the tank’s position is key to successfully completing missions. He added, “furthermore, smoother driving and better maneuverability significantly improve the tanker’s work itself. In the T-72, they had to constantly struggle with demanding controls and therefore got tired more quickly. In the Leopard, on the other hand, they can devote more time to the operation itself and less to handling the vehicle.”
Leopard 2 main battle tank
The Leopard 2 is a third-generation MBT from Germany. It was developed by Krauss-Maffei during the 1970s and was introduced into service in 1979, succeeding the earlier Leopard 1 as the primary battle tank for the West German army. Various models of the Leopard 2 are still in use by the German armed forces, along with those of 13 other European nations and several countries outside Europe, such as Canada, Chile, Indonesia, and Singapore. Some of these nations have obtained licenses to produce and further develop the Leopard 2 design domestically.
There are two primary development phases of the Leopard 2 tank. The initial phase includes tanks manufactured up to the Leopard 2A4 standard, which are distinguished by their vertically oriented turret armour. The subsequent phase, beginning with the Leopard 2A5, features an angled, arrow-shaped turret appliqué armour along with various enhancements.
All Leopard 2 tanks are equipped with a smoothbore 120 mm cannon produced by Rheinmetall, which is operated using a digital fire control system, a laser rangefinder, and sophisticated night vision and sighting technologies. The tank is powered by a V12 twin-turbo diesel engine manufactured by MTU Friedrichshafen.
During the 1990s, the German Army utilized the Leopard 2 for peacekeeping missions in Kosovo. In the 2000s, Dutch, Danish, and Canadian forces deployed their Leopard 2 tanks in the War in Afghanistan as part of their commitment to the International Security Assistance Force. In the 2010s, Turkish Leopard 2 tanks were engaged in operations in Syria. As of 2023, Ukrainian Leopard 2 tanks are actively participating in the Russo-Ukrainian conflict.
