Croatia will receive the first of 44 Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks in 2028 as part of a 1.5 billion euro ($1.6 billion) procurement aimed at modernising its armed forces, Defence Minister Ivan Anušić said on Saturday.
Anušić visited German defence manufacturer KNDS in Munich, where he was presented with the capabilities and technical specifications of the Leopard 2A8 tanks acquired by the Croatian government in what he described as a historic purchase for the armed forces.
The Croatian army will be equipped with 44 of the tanks, considered among the most modern in the world. The Leopard 2A8 features advanced offensive systems and the Trophy active protection system, which the minister said would significantly strengthen Croatia’s defence capabilities.
The acquisition forms part of a joint procurement programme with Norway, the Netherlands, Lithuania and the Czech Republic.
The total value of the tank purchase, including contracts for simulators and extended warranties, amounts to 1.5 billion euros.
As part of the arrangement, Germany purchased 30 Croatian M-84 tanks and 30 M-80 infantry fighting vehicles. Berlin subsequently donated the equipment to Ukraine.
Croatia is undertaking a broader military modernisation drive amid what officials describe as a deteriorating global security environment.