The Czech Army will grow its Leopard 2A4 main battle tank (MBT) fleet by 30% with the acquisition of 14 additional units in a move that paves the way for the retirement of the ageing, Russian-origin, T-72M4 CZ MBTs.
In a 20 November statement, the Czech Ministry of Defence (MoD) stated deliveries would be completed by the end of 2026, bringing the Czech Army’s future Leopard 2A4 force up to 42 MBTs, in addition to two Büffel 3 recovery vehicles.
The VAT-excluded CZK3.98bn ($165.3m) deal, which will be signed by the end of 2024, includes an initial supply of ammunition for the Leopard 2A4 120mm smoothbore main gun.
"We continue to modernise not only our tank army, but also the entire army. This is another step to get rid of old Russian armaments and at the same time to increase our capabilities," said Defence Minister Jana Černochová.
The Czech MoD is also negotiating a service contract deal that will enable the Leopard 2A4s to be serviced in the Czech Republic by local defence companies.
At over $11m per tank, the price is similar to a 2023 deal that saw Denmark and the Netherlands acquire 14 Leopard 2A4 tanks for Ukraine, at a cost of $172.9m
Czech Army fulfills commitment to Nato
In acquiring 42 Leopard 2A4 MBTs, the Czech Army will be able to equip its 73rd Tank Battalion up to Nato standards as part of a national commitment to provide a heavy armoured brigade to Nato.
The delivery of the first batch of 28 Leopard 2A4s will be completed by the end of 2025, according to the Czech MoD. These first MBTs were provided free-of-charge by Germany after the Czech Republic’s earlier provision of between 90-105 T-72B/EA tanks to Ukraine.
T-72M4 CZ vs Leopard 2A4
“Although these are older versions of [Leopard 2] tanks, they clearly increase the combat capabilities of tank troops compared to the T-72s used. In addition, the 2A4 machines can be upgraded,” the Czech MoD stated on 20 November.
It is not clear what will happen to the remaining T-72s in Czech service once decommissioned, although a further donation to Ukraine is a distinct possibility.
Why go for the Leopard 2?
Operated by a range of Nato militaries, the Leopard 2A4 is a widely-used variant of the German-designed MBT. Distinguishable from the more advanced Leopard 2A5 models onwards through the vertical turret armour, the Leopard 2A4 tanks are still considered to be capable MBTs and are a step up from the T-72M4 CZ platforms.
Providing its reasoning for the selection of the 2A4s, the Czech MoD said the combat capabilities of the current in-service T-72s, both in terms of firepower and armour, was “very limited”, with lessons being gleaned from the Ukraine-Russia war emphasising the importance of crew protection.
In addition, logistical considerations and Nato fleet commonality drove the purchase of the additional 14 Leopard 2A4 tanks.
“The T-72M4 CZ also contains mostly technologies from the 90s of the last century and is not upgradable further,” the MoD added.
