Slovakia plans to buy more than 100 new main battle tanks

At the Future Armoured Vehicles Central & Eastern Europe conference in Prague, Czech Republic, the Slovak Ministry of Defence announced its plan to purchase more than 100 new main battle tanks.

Here's What We Know

Under an arms exchange agreement with Germany, Slovakia transferred 30 BVP-1 infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine in exchange for 15 Leopard 2A4 tanks. These 15 tanks were donated to Slovakia by the German government as part of the Ringtausch initiative in exchange for compensation for arming Ukraine.

Slovakia's Ministry of Defence has announced a reorganisation of the structure of its ground forces, continuing the modernisation of its armoured vehicle fleet. It is planned to create two new tank battalions, each of which will be equipped with 52 new main battle tanks. The choice of tanks for these battalions has not yet been finalised, and proposals from the industry are currently being considered by the Ministry.

By 2030, the Slovak Armed Forces plan to have 45 main battle tanks in service with the 14th Tank Battalion, a unit of the 2nd Mechanised Army Brigade. Of these tanks, 30 are Soviet T-72s. The Slovak Ministry of Defence recently considered upgrading these tanks, but decided against it.

An agreement for new main battle tanks will be signed this year or next year. Once acquired, the armoured vehicles will be a key component of Slovakia's strategic efforts to ensure national security and defence capability.

Source:Defence Industry Europe