14 October 2022

Czech Republic to receive Leopard 2 tanks from Rheinmetall

by Nicholas Fiorenza

The Czech Republic and Germany agreed on 11 October on the transfer of 14 Leopard 2A4 MBTs (pictured) and a Büffel armoured recovery vehicle for the ACR. (Rheinmetall)

The Czech Republic and Germany agreed on 11 October on the transfer of 14 Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks (MBTs) and a Büffel armoured recovery vehicle for the Army of the Czech Republic (ACR), the Czech Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Rheinmetall announced the same day.

Four documents were signed at the Czech MoD by Czech Land Forces Commander Major General Ladislav Jung; Colonel Robert Bielený, director of the logistics section of the Czech General Staff; German National Armaments Director Vice Admiral Carsten Stawitzki; and Björn Bernhard, CEO of Rheinmetall's tactical vehicles business unit.

Rheinmetall signed an agreement to supply the armoured vehicles to the Czech Republic. The agreement includes an initial package of spare parts, ammunition, and three years of service support that includes training of Czech personnel.

The vehicles, which were bought by Rheinmetall after they were decommissioned, are scheduled to be delivered from December 2022 through to the end of 2023, followed by the Büffel in mid-2024. The Czech MoD said the vehicles came from the inventories of the Bundeswehr and the Swiss Bundesheer.

Rheinmetall has begun work on the vehicles, which Czech MoD officials said would be overhauled and modified for ACR requirements, mainly involving their communication system.

The Czech Republic and Germany agreed on 11 October on the transfer of 14 Leopard 2A4 main battle ta...

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