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The Czech government has approved the €1.4bn purchase of 44 Leopard 2A8 battle tanks from Germany as part of efforts to modernise its army.
The development follows the defence ministry’s backing of the deal last month.
Speaking on Wednesday, Czech Defence Minister Jana Černochová confirmed that the tanks, which are due to be delivered between 2028 and 2031, would cost 34 billion crowns (€1.4 billion).
The Czech Republic also has the option to buy 14 more at a later date.
“Tanks are an essential part of a heavy brigade,” Černochová said on Wednesday after the government approved the purchase.
Under a separate deal, the country, which agreed last year to procure up to 77 Leopard tanks from Germany and other countries, is also in discussions to buy 19 specialised version 2A8s.
The Czech army will also buy 18 Supacat Extenda light armoured vehicles from LPP for €37.6 million.
Among other major military contracts, Prague has also in recent years supported a plan to buy 24 US F-35 fighter jets and 246 CV90 armoured combat vehicles.
The new military spending come as Prague looks to replace older machinery that it supplied to Ukraine after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Earlier this year, the Czech Republic announced that it would raise its defence spending to 3% of GDP by 2030.
Many other NATO members have also promised to dramatically increase their military investments, following pressure from US President Donald Trump, who accused European countries of failing to pay their fair share for the alliance’s collective security.
Additional sources • AP
