Czech Republic Approves Leopard 2A8 Tank Procurement From Germany
The Czech Republic has approved the purchase of 44 Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks from KNDS Deutschland under a contract worth 32.76 billion koruna ($1.56 billion).
As part of the framework agreement with Germany, Prague will also fund a 1.49-billion koruna ($71 million) package for vehicle customization. An additional 5 billion koruna ($239 million) has been reserved for potential exchange rate fluctuations.
The acquisition includes self-defense and mine protection systems, plus integrated logistical support covering spare parts, documentation, training, and support management.
The framework, pending cabinet approval, also provides for the option to buy 14 more tanks. In parallel, Prague plans to acquire 19 Leopard 2A8s in engineering, recovery, bridge, and driver training variants, pending separate negotiations.
In total, the Czech Army expects to field 61 to 77 Leopard 2A8 tanks across six variants, replacing its fleet after donating all 86 T-72M1s to Ukraine.
