Czech Republic to receive Leopard 2 tanks from Germany

Germany will supply Leopard 2A4 tanks to the Czech Republic. (Bundeswehr/Detmar Modes)

Germany will supply Leopard 2A4 tanks to the Czech Republic, the two countries' ministries of defence (MoDs) announced on 18 May. The German MoD, in a press release, described the donation as backfill in support of the Czech Republic supplying heavy equipment to Ukraine.

However, the Czech MoD told Janes on 23 May, “The German decision to provide 15 tanks is a sign of appreciation to all the efforts of the Czech Republic to provide as much military equipment as possible to Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion. However, it is not tied to any specific Czech deliveries.”

The German MoD said that Germany would pay for the tanks from industry stock, and the Bundeswehr would train Czech crews. Germany will also provide ammunition and spare parts for the tanks.

The Czech MoD said it would receive 14 Leopard 2A4s and an armoured recovery vehicle after the contract that is being prepared is signed in the third quarter of 2022. It expected the first Leopard 2A4 to be delivered in six months after contract signing, followed soon thereafter by the rest of the delivery.

Training of Czech tank crews is to begin in Germany in 2022 and the two countries will conduct more intensive joint training in the Czech Republic. The Czech MoD expects this to speed up the transition to the new tank and to support bilateral co-operation between the two countries.