On Tuesday, December 3, 2024, the Ministry of Defense of the Czech Republic announced that it had signed a contract worth 3.98 billion CZK net with the German company Rheinmetall Landsysteme (a part of the Rheinmetall AG group) for the delivery of 14 Leopard 2A4 tanks. The intention to conclude the agreement was communicated to Parliament by Defense Minister Jana Černochová on November 20 of this year.
Photos: Ministry of Defense of the Czech Republic
The agreement was signed by representatives of Rheinmetall Landsysteme and Lubor Koudelka, the Czech Deputy Minister of Defense for Armaments and Acquisitions.
The contract covers 14 tanks sourced from Germany’s defense industry. These will be integrated with communication and information exchange systems that meet the buyer’s requirements, as well as the provision of workshop equipment, related materials, and an initial delivery of ammunition. The Leopard 2A4 tanks are to be delivered by the end of 2026. Simultaneously, the Czech Ministry of Defense is finalizing negotiations for a maintenance agreement, which will ensure future servicing of these tanks within the territory of the Czech Republic by entities from the domestic defense industry.
“We are continuing to modernize not only our tank fleet but also the entire army. This is another step toward getting rid of old Russian weapons while simultaneously enhancing our capabilities,” said Defense Minister Jana Černochová, who informed the government about the contract two weeks ago.
The tanks will join the first 14 of this type, which were provided free of charge by Germany under the Ringtausch program. Their deliveries were completed on November 21, 2023 (along with one Bergepanzer 3 Büffel armored recovery vehicle). Prague received these tanks in exchange for transferring, among other equipment, 62 T-72M1 tanks manufactured in 1968, 1977, 1985–1989, and 1993, to war-torn Ukraine.
On February 21 of this year, Minister Jana Černochová informed the government that negotiations were underway with Germany to acquire an additional 28 tanks, including 14 under the aforementioned program and 14 for purchase. The first of these, along with another Bergepanzer 3 Büffel recovery vehicle, were ordered on July 31 of this year. Deliveries will begin later this year and conclude in early 2026. The remaining tanks from the declared batch have now been ordered.
As a result, the 73rd Hanácký Tank Battalion of the 7th Dukelská Mechanized Brigade in Přáslavice, located in the Olomouc District in the Olomouc Region, will ultimately be equipped with a total of 42 Leopard 2A4 tanks and 2 Bergepanzer 3 Büffel armored recovery vehicles.
But that’s not the end. By the end of the year, a contract is expected to be signed for the purchase of 61 brand-new Leopard 2A8CZ tanks and accompanying vehicles, with an option for 16 additional units. The agreement is estimated to be worth 2.5 billion EUR. The Ministry of Defense projects that by 2030, the armed forces will have 119 Leopard 2A4 and 2A8CZ tanks (along with support vehicles) in reserve and frontline service. Together with the acquisition of 246 CV90 MkIV infantry fighting vehicles from BAE Systems Hägglunds in Sweden, Prague aims to form a heavy brigade as part of its NATO defense commitments.
The procurement of modern Western vehicles is part of the Security Strategy of the Czech Republic 2023, the Defence Strategy Of Czech Republic, and the Long-Term Perspective For Defence 2035. It will enable the retirement of obsolete equipment, including 30 T-72M4CZ tanks and fewer than 120 Czechoslovak BVP-2 vehicles (licensed Soviet BMP-2s).
Lastly, it is worth noting that on January 30 and 31 of this year, Rheinmetall AG received 25 Panzer 87 tanks (locally designated Leopard 2A4s) purchased from Switzerland last year. It is possible that the vehicles acquired by Prague originate from this batch.
Vrchní ředitel Lubor Koudelka podepsal se zástupci německé společnosti @RheinmetallAG smlouvu na pořízení 14 bojových tanků Leopard 2A4. @ArmadaCR je obdrží do konce roku 2026.https://t.co/ld6cz1Jlf8
— Ministerstvo obrany (@ObranaTweetuje) December 3, 2024