The deal will see Croatia acquire discounted Leopard 2A8 tanks from Germany, as part of a wider effort to upgrade its armed forces. “This is an important step for our defence strategy,” Anušić said during a cabinet meeting streamed on YouTube on Thursday.
Funding for the Leopard 2A8 tanks will be incorporated into Croatia’s state budget, according to the defence ministry. While no further financial details were disclosed, last month Anušić revealed plans to acquire up to 50 new Leopard 2A8 tanks under the agreement.
The M-84 tanks and M-80 infantry fighting vehicles, designed during the Yugoslav era, remain in service in several countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Kuwait. The M-84 is based on the Soviet T-72, while the M-80 was produced in the 1980s.
