Poland Procuring Leopard Tanks from Germany

Poland is acquiring Leopard 1A4 and Leopard 2A5 main battle tanks from Germany under an agreement signed by defense ministers of both countries.

The agreement covers 105 Leopard 2A5s, 14 of the 1A4s, 200 other armored vehicles -- such as recovery vehicles and trucks -- and peripheral material. Delivery of the tanks and other vehicles will begin next year. The contract is worth $244 million.

German Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere, speaking at the contract signing in Poland, noted the Leopard battle tanks were developed during the Cold War as a defense against forces of the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact, of which Poland was a member. "And now these Leopard battle tanks serve our joint work and connection in NATO," he said.

The minister called the contract for the tanks "a further building block to the very close and [to] be continued cooperation between the armed forces of our two countries."

Additional details of the contract were not disclosed. [via]