WARSAW, Poland — In a significant military development, the government of Croatia has officially signed a letter of intent with Germany to procure up to 50 cutting-edge Leopard 2A8 tanks for its armed forces, marking a major enhancement of its military capabilities.
The purchase agreement is strategically designed to offer a reduced price for the tanks, as part of a compensation arrangement for the Croatian Army’s planned transfer of utilized M-84 tanks and M-80 infantry fighting vehicles to support Ukraine amidst its ongoing conflict.
This pivotal agreement was finalized during an official visit by Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Ivan Anušić to Germany, where he held discussions with German Minister of Defence, Boris Pistorius, on October 28.
“This is one of the largest and most significant modernization projects of the Croatian military, along with modernization projects of the Croatian Air Force and Navy. We are at a crucial juncture in strengthening our armored forces and tank battalions,” Anušić emphasized in a statement disseminated by his ministry.
The discussions in Berlin were further augmented by collaborative initiatives aimed at tightening defense sector cooperation between Germany and Croatia. Following this, on October 29, Rheinmetall announced a groundbreaking memorandum of understanding to establish a joint venture with Croatian firm DOK-ING, recognized for its innovative unmanned ground systems (UGS).
“The agreement outlines a plan for joint development and marketing of the advanced DOK-ING Komodo platform. Rheinmetall AG is set to contribute various capability modules and upgrade kits, along with its extensive international market access and industrial resources,” stated the German defense contractor.
Croatia is aligning with an increasing number of NATO’s Eastern European allies who are planning to acquire German-made tanks. The Croatian Ministry’s decision to procure Leopard 2A8s follows closely on the heels of Lithuania’s announcement from the previous week, indicating similar intentions to bolster its military strength.
On October 22, the Lithuanian State Defence Council validated the Defence Ministry’s proposed plans to acquire these advanced weapons systems in a fortified response to Russia’s persistent invasion of Ukraine. This military enhancement will include the establishment of a new division comprising infantry fighting vehicles alongside a tank battalion.
Lithuanian officials are exploring options to purchase up to 54 Leopard 2A8 tanks to effectively strengthen their military defenses.
Jaroslaw Adamowski is the Poland correspondent for Defense News.
