The first Leopard 2A4 main battle tank to reach Slovakia as early as this December
- Author:
- Photo:
- Date: 15.11.2022
- Share: Zdieľať na Facebook
With the signing of agreements in Brussels today, the Slovak Ministry of Defence has successfully concluded its month-long negotiations on a “ring swap” deal or an equipment exchange programme with the German Federal Ministry of Defence and Rheinmetall. Under the arrangements, Slovakia is to get 15 Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks (MBTs) from Germany in exchange for gifting 30 BVP-1 infantry fighting vehicles to hard-pressed Ukraine.
With the first MBT slated to arrive in Slovakia as early as this year, Slovakia is awaiting the arrival of the other Leopard 2A4 MBTs through to the end of 2023. Meanwhile, Rheinmetall has begun work on the tanks at its facility in Germany. These will be overhauled and upgraded to make them combat-ready and deployable on operations. For example, they will be kitted out with the communication and information (CIS) systems that are compatible with those in service with the Slovak Armed Forces.
The initial package gifted includes tank ammunition, tank crew and maintenance personnel training, spare parts, and logistics support. The training of SVK Leopard 2A4 tank crews is set to begin in Germany in the weeks to come.
On the arms swap deal, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “With the transition to this capability, the Slovak Armed Forces will start operating Western tanks and will be able to get spare components, maintenance services and upgrades. Thanks to these arrangements, we are strengthening our bilateral cooperation with Germany, which, with its leadership, is becoming a significant actor in building Europeʼs defences.”
With the gifted MBTs, Slovakia will strengthen its Tank Battalion by 50%. The Tank Battalion forms part of the Heavy Mechanised Brigade, the formation of which follows on from Slovakia's main commitment vis-à-vis our Allies under its NATO Capability Targets. Admittedly, the current number of T-72s in the Slovak Army is neither sufficient nor meets the Alliance's minimum armoured capability requirements.
“With the integration of this type of MBTs into its inventory, the Slovak Army is transitioning its tank capability to the Leopard 2A4 MBT,” Director General of the MOD Defence Planning Department Martin Sklenár said, adding “the Leopard 2A4 MBT is operated by 18 countries, including Poland, Hungary, and, of course, Germany, which are working together to support the operation of the tanks with training, logistics, and upgrades.”
Germany has recently made a similar arms swap deal with the Czech Republic. Under the deal, Czechia will be donated Leopard 2A4 MBTs as a replacement for its equipment transferred to Ukraine. Germany's deals with the V4 countries create the space for closer V4 cooperation on this armoured capability.
With the first MBT slated to arrive in Slovakia as early as this year, Slovakia is awaiting the arrival of the other Leopard 2A4 MBTs through to the end of 2023. Meanwhile, Rheinmetall has begun work on the tanks at its facility in Germany. These will be overhauled and upgraded to make them combat-ready and deployable on operations. For example, they will be kitted out with the communication and information (CIS) systems that are compatible with those in service with the Slovak Armed Forces.
The initial package gifted includes tank ammunition, tank crew and maintenance personnel training, spare parts, and logistics support. The training of SVK Leopard 2A4 tank crews is set to begin in Germany in the weeks to come.
On the arms swap deal, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “With the transition to this capability, the Slovak Armed Forces will start operating Western tanks and will be able to get spare components, maintenance services and upgrades. Thanks to these arrangements, we are strengthening our bilateral cooperation with Germany, which, with its leadership, is becoming a significant actor in building Europeʼs defences.”
With the gifted MBTs, Slovakia will strengthen its Tank Battalion by 50%. The Tank Battalion forms part of the Heavy Mechanised Brigade, the formation of which follows on from Slovakia's main commitment vis-à-vis our Allies under its NATO Capability Targets. Admittedly, the current number of T-72s in the Slovak Army is neither sufficient nor meets the Alliance's minimum armoured capability requirements.
“With the integration of this type of MBTs into its inventory, the Slovak Army is transitioning its tank capability to the Leopard 2A4 MBT,” Director General of the MOD Defence Planning Department Martin Sklenár said, adding “the Leopard 2A4 MBT is operated by 18 countries, including Poland, Hungary, and, of course, Germany, which are working together to support the operation of the tanks with training, logistics, and upgrades.”
Germany has recently made a similar arms swap deal with the Czech Republic. Under the deal, Czechia will be donated Leopard 2A4 MBTs as a replacement for its equipment transferred to Ukraine. Germany's deals with the V4 countries create the space for closer V4 cooperation on this armoured capability.
