According to information from Práva, the Czech army would be interested in up to 60 machines. Part of the delivery should be older tanks in exchange for those sent by the Czech government to Ukraine, and part would be modern machines for which the Czech side would pay. Defense Minister Jana Cernochova (ODS) confirmed that they are negotiating with Germany on the acquisition of Leopard tanks.
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Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS) spoke in Berlin last week about possible compensation for Czech arms supplies to Ukraine. Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Czechia has provided military assistance to the Ukrainian army for three billion crowns. “I think we are well on our way to making an appointment. And now it’s just about processing it into some legal and technical form, “Černochová told ČT.
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When asked whether the Czechia would acquire Leopard 1 tanks from the 1970s, or significantly more modern Leopard 2 machines, the Minister stated that it would be a modification “somewhere in the middle”. According to the well-informed source Práva, in the case of compensation for T-72 tanks from the Czech reserves delivered to Ukraine, there is talk of older versions of the Leopard 2 tank.
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“The game is that the Czech army would receive twenty 2A4 machines as compensation and would buy forty modern 2A6 or 2A7 versions,” said the source. Then the Czech defense would have to pay 15 to 20 billion crowns.
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Leopard 1 would be stupid
The option to purchase part of the older and part of the modern German tanks is also discussed among the members of the House Defense Committee. According to ODS MP Karel Krejza, German tanks are technologically advanced and the advantage is that they are used by almost all European armies.
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“If there is an exchange, it will not be enough and the best modern 2A6 or 2A7 tanks will have to be bought,” Krejza told Práva. The opposition YES would agree with the exchange and possible purchase of modern machines. “If there should be 20 refurbished for training and 40 modern tanks, then I support the Minister. We will not throw a pitchfork into it, “Pavel Růžička, vice-chairman of the committee (YES), told Práva.
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Military experts are clear that it only makes sense to buy Leopard 2 tanks. “It must be at least version 2A4, which already has a 120 mm cannon, much better armor and it is a much more widespread version, which is a big advantage,” military magazine ATM Michal Zdobinský. The Czech Ministry sent non-modernized T-72 tanks and BVP-1 armor to Ukraine from its mobilization reserves.
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“Version 2A4 is much better than what they sent to Ukraine,” the expert said. The Czech Army uses thirty modernized T-72M4 CZ and, according to Zdobinský, it is a comparable machine to the 2A4. “Leopard is clearly a good choice because all Western European countries have it, with the exception of the Poles who buy American Abrams tanks, the British who have their Challenger tanks, and the French the Leclerc tank,” the expert added.
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According to him, the advantage is that Germany is close, so training and service and logistics will be easier and cheaper. Former Chief of General Staff Jiří Šedivý also doubts that these would be Leopards 1. “A1 is stupid, we would go back to the sixties. Leopards 1 are partners for T55A tanks, “Šedivý told the Novinky.cz server.
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“I think the offer should be a leopard in at least A4, preferably six, I do not know if the A7 would be the most appropriate. The A4 version could be upgraded, “said Šedivý. E.g. Comparably large Hungary has ordered 12 2A4 training machines and 44 state-of-the-art 2A7 + machines from Germany.
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