Canada buys more Leopard 2s
The Canadian armed forces has purchased 12 surplus Leopard 2 (Pz 87 Leo) main battle tanks (MBT) from Switzerland.
Due to be converted to ‘protected special vehicles’, the MBTs will be supplied without armament and further components, Switzerland’s defence procurement agency, Armasuisse said in a statement on 10 February. The agency has been tasked with the performance of the contract and the sale of surplus equipment.
The reduction of Swiss military strength, in line with wider reform of the armed forces, has led to the divesture of various weapon systems, including the Pz 87 Leo.
According to the statement, this particular MBT is one of the many systems which are no longer needed in the originally procured quantity.
The vehicles will be stripped of, among other things, armament, radios and intercom systems. Parts not included will be retained by the Swiss as spares.
Under a similar contract announced by Armasuisse on 11 November 2010, the Swiss forces sold 42 surplus Pz 87 Leos to Rheinmetall Landsysteme, part of the consortium in Germany that produced the Leopard 2.
Between 1987 and 1993, 380 Pz 87 Leo MBTs were accepted by the Swiss forces. Of these, 134 combat vehicles were subjected to a quality maintenance programme, said Armasuisse. The Swiss MBT has reached the first half of its planned service life, and is to be adapted to its changing requirements.
In addition to the Swiss contracts, on 17 December 2010 it was announced by Rheinmetall that its Canadian division was contracted to modernise and overhaul 42 Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks sold from the Dutch armed forces to the Canadian Army. The work is expected to be completed by the start of 2012.
More from Land Warfare
-
Rheinmetall wins communications deal that could be worth up to €400 million
The systems have been purchased under a special fund which has already been tapped into for the purchase of 60 CH-47F Block II Chinook helicopters worth up to €8 billion (US$8.7 billion) and thousands of Rheinmetall Caracal airmobile special operations vehicles worth €1.9 billion.
-
The Philippines looks to Israel for military equipment amid South China Sea tensions
The southeast Asian country has been enhancing its military readiness by procuring advanced Israeli defence platforms and systems.
-
NSPA signs new helmet system deal and agreement for C-UAS systems
The Caiman helmet has been designed to be scalable for dynamic operations with mission-specific accessories and can incorporate electronics, communications headsets and other critical equipment.
-
US Missile Defense Agency’s budget could be cut by $2.6 billion over the next three years
The reduction would impact several acquisition and development programmes, creating capabilities gaps in US missile defence architecture.
-
Israel ramps up Arrow-4 development following Iranian attack
Israel’s Ministry of Defense has fast-tracked the development of the Arrow-4 ballistic missile interceptor in response to recent Iranian ballistic missile attacks.