Czech Republic Advances Talks with Germany for Joint Tank Acquisition, Aircraft Purchase Plans

Czech Defence Minister Jana Černochová has disclosed that her country is in the process of advancing negotiations with Germany for a joint acquisition of Leopard 2A8 tanks.

Simultaneously, talks are nearing completion for the purchase of C-390 Millennium transport aircraft and F-35 Lightning II fighter jets.

In an interview with local news site CZDefence.cz, Minister Černochová emphasized the strategic advantages of collaborating with Germany on tank acquisition, stating that such a partnership is expected to ensure "better conditions from the manufacturer, especially in terms of the price, delivery time."

"The negotiations are ongoing at the moment, and we anticipate that there should be clarity over the course of the next year," Černochová stated.

In 2022, the Czech Republic made a strategic move by donating its Soviet-designed T-72 tanks to Ukraine to bolster the country's defense against Russia's ongoing invasion. As part of the "Ringtausch" program, Berlin reciprocated by transferring a batch of Leopard 2A4 tanks to Prague, enabling the Czech military to maintain its combat capabilities.

Last July, the Czech Ministry indicated a potential acquisition of "up to 77 Leopard 2A8 tanks."

Discussing the military acquisition priorities for the upcoming year, Minister Černochová revealed that the ministry plans to finalize a deal to purchase two C-390 Millennium aircraft from Embraer in 2024. Talks for this acquisition were initiated earlier this year.

Furthermore, the minister highlighted that a contract for the acquisition of 24 F-35s for the Czech Air Force is expected to be concluded "in a matter of weeks." The procurement of these advanced fighter jets represents a significant step in enhancing the capabilities of the Czech military.