The ACR will receive more Leopard 2A4s similar to the one pictured above at the International Defence and Security Technology Fair (IDET) held in Brno, Czech Republic, from 24 to 26 May 2023. (Janes/Nicholas Fiorenza)
The Czech Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on its website on 31 July that it will receive 14 more Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks (MBTs) and another Büffel 3 armoured recovery vehicle (ARV) from Germany. It will be the second time that the Czech Republic receives Leopard 2A4s as part of a backfilling agreement with Germany.
The first tank is scheduled to be shipped to the Czech Republic at the end of 2024, followed by the 13 remaining Leopard 2A4s by April 2025, and the Büffel 3 by the beginning of 2026. The final document of the related contracts was signed with Rheinmetall on 31 July, with the Czech MoD valuing them at CZK4.5 billion (USD191 million).
The first 14 Leopard 2A4s and a Büffel 3 ARV from Bundeswehr depots were transferred to the Czech 7th Mechanised Brigade's 73rd Tank Battalion in Přáslavice in 2022–23, when Czech tank crews also received training at the Bundeswehr Streitkräftebasis support command's driver training centre in Munster, Germany.
In addition, preliminary market consultations regarding the possible purchase of 14 more Leopard 2A4s have also been launched.
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