Germany has approved the purchase of 18 Leopard 2A8 tanks and 12 Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzers to replenish the stocks depleted due to deliveries to Ukraine.
The German Parliament’s budget committee approved 525.6 million euros ($578.58 million) for the tanks and 190.7 million euros ($204 million) for the howitzers, Der Spiegel revealed, citing German finance ministry documents.
The German outlet added that deliveries are expected by 2026 at the latest.
Option to buy 105 Additional Tanks
The purchase includes an option to buy an additional 105 Leopards for 2.9 billion euros ($3.11 billion).
The purchase of Krauss-Maffei Wegmann howitzers is part of a defense ministry plan to purchase 28 of the mobile weapons.
Germany has already sent 14 Panzerhaubitze 2000s to Ukraine since the beginning of the war.
The purchase will be financed from the current budget and not from the 100-billion-euro special fund the government allocated in response to the war, Der Spiegel clarified.
Leopard Deliveries to Ukraine
In January, Germany announced the delivery of 14 Leopard 2A6 tanks to Ukraine from Bundeswehr stocks.
Berlin also approved European countries delivering Leopards to Ukraine to help it repel Russia’s invasion.
Later, the country allowed a military manufacturer to send 29 Leopard 1 tanks to Ukraine.
Germany’s latest $2.9 billion military assistance package also includes 30 Leopard 1s.
“We are breaking new ground when it comes to purchasing the battle tanks that were handed over to Ukraine, and we consistently rely on products that are available on the market,” Der Spiegel quoted Green Party budget politician Sebastian Schäfer as saying.
“Industry also benefits from better planning during production.”
