Germany’s budget committee has approved the purchase of 105 Leopard 2A8 tanks, in addition to 18 previously ordered combat vehicles. The approval came after reviewing the German budget project, as reported by Reuters. The tanks will be ordered from KNDS, with a budget allocation of EUR 2.93 billion. This purchase is part of an option to the contract signed last May, which covered the initial order of 18 new vehicles. The German Defense Ministry expects to receive the first samples of the Leopard 2A8 tank between 2027 and 2030. The tanks will be used by the German 45th Panzer Brigade and will support NATO’s strengthening of its eastern borders in Lithuania.

Germany’s order for additional tanks will also boost tank production at the German KNDS unit’s facilities in multiple European countries, including the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Sweden, Italy, and the Netherlands. The Czech Republic plans to order 61 tanks, Italy 132, and Lithuania up to 54 tanks. Sweden and the Netherlands have also shown interest in purchasing main battle tanks. The Leopard 2A8, manufactured by Krauss Maffei Wegmann, is an advanced main battle tank with several improvements from the Leopard 2A7. These improvements include the integration of the EuroTrophy APS active protection system, the All-round Awareness System, and enhanced passive protection. The tank is also equipped with composite armor modules to increase protection against anti-tank rockets.

ملخص الأخبار

• الصفقة تشمل توصيل الدبابات بين عامي ٢٠٢٧ و ٢٠٣٠، لتعزيز الطاقة الدفاعية للقوات المشاركة في حلف الناتو
• الطلب الألماني سيدعم إنتاج الدبابات في العديد من البلدان الأوروبية لشركة KNDS، من ضمنها التشيك وليتوانيا والسويد وإيطاليا وهولندا
• أيضا، تم تجهيز الدبابة Leopard 2A8 بقطع درع مركبة مع زيادة الحماية ضد الصواريخ المدمرة للدبابات