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.