The Czech Republic is set to acquire 14 more Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks (MBT) and one Büffel 3 recovery vehicle following an agreement with Rheinmetall.
This acquisition will be the second compensation for the Czech Republic, in recognition of its supply of tanks and other military equipment to Ukraine. The first tank from this delivery is expected to arrive at the end of this year, with the remaining tanks scheduled to be delivered by early 2026.
In addition, the Czech Republic has initiated preliminary market consultations for the potential purchase of additional Leopard 2A4 tanks, further advancing the modernization of its tank force.
The Czech Republic has already received 14 Leopard 2A4 MBTs and one Büffel 3 recovery vehicle as a gift from Germany in 2022 and 2023 which were assigned to the 73rd Tank Battalion.
“The modernization of our tank force continues. We are replacing structurally obsolete Soviet equipment with new, modern machines that are capable of standing up to the current war theater. This is an important leap forward for our tankers. I would also like to thank the German side for appreciating our assistance to Ukraine, which is facing brutal Russian aggression,” said Czech Defence Minister Jana Černochová.
“For the Czech Armed Forces, this is another crucial step towards the construction of a heavy mechanized brigade. It is not only a step forward for the tank troops, but also for the entire heavy mechanized brigade, the building of which represents our commitment to NATO collective defence. It is a major step forward in that we are moving away from Soviet technology, where we had problems both with the production of spare parts and with modifications or servicing, and we are moving towards a platform that is in many ways superior to the T-72 platform,” said Major General Bielený.
Leopard 2A4 main battle tank
The German Leopard 2A4 MBT is an improved version of the Leopard 2, with better armour protection, fire control system and mobility. The Leopard 2A4 is one of the most widely used tanks in Europe and has been exported to several countries around the world.
The tank has a crew of four: commander, gunner, loader and driver and is armed with a 120 mm smoothbore cannon that can fire various types of ammunition, including armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS), high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) and high-explosive squash head (HESH). The tank also has two 7.62 mm machine guns for secondary armament.
The Leopard 2A4 has composite armour made of steel and ceramic layers that protect against kinetic energy and shaped charge projectiles. The tank also has a spall liner to reduce the effects of internal explosions and a fire suppression system to prevent fires. The Leopard 2A4 can be fitted with additional armour modules for increased protection.
Onboard is a digital fire control system that allows the tank to engage targets accurately and quickly. The system consists of a laser rangefinder, a thermal imager, a ballistic computer and a stabilized sight for the gunner and commander. The tank also has a navigation system, a radio communication system and an intercom system for internal communication.
The Leopard 2A4 has a diesel engine that provides a power output of 1,500 horsepower. The tank has a torsion bar suspension with hydraulic dampers that gives it good cross-country mobility. The tank can reach a maximum speed of 72 km/h on roads and 45 km/h off-road. The tank can also ford water up to 1.2 meters deep without preparation and up to 4 meters deep with snorkel equipment.
