Rheinmetall Landsysteme will deliver an additional 14 Leopard 2 A4 main battle tanks (MBTs) to the Czech Republic by 2026, under a new contract announced by the Czech Ministry of Defence on December 3, 2024. Valued at roughly CZK 4 billion (about EUR 160 million), the deal includes refurbishment and partial customization of the tanks to suit Czech military needs. Some of the tanks may come from the Swiss Army’s stock, which the Czech Republic had expressed interest in acquiring in 2023. That year, Rheinmetall secured a deal to obtain 25 tanks from Switzerland, delivered in early 2024. This procurement is part of Prague’s broader effort to modernize its armored fleet by phasing out Russian-origin MBTs in favor of German Leopard 2 A4s, with funding support from Berlin. Since 2023, the Czech Army has scheduled delivery of 28 Leopard tanks and two Büffel 3 recovery vehicles, with around half already received. With the latest purchase, the total Czech Leopard 2 A4 fleet is projected to reach 42 by 2026.
