Czech Republic Awards €250 Million Service Deal for Leopard Tanks and Recovery Vehicles

The Czech Ministry of Defence has signed a major seven-year, €250 million contract with German defence group Rheinmetall to provide long-term service, maintenance, and logistical support for its fleet of Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks and Bergepanzer 3 “Büffel” armoured recovery vehicles.

The agreement, concluded in Prague between the Ministry and Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH, covers 42 Leopard 2A4 tanks and two Büffel recovery vehicles. The scope includes spare parts supply, on-site customer service, factory-level repairs, crew and technician training, logistical and technical assistance, temporary infrastructure, and overall project management.

Rheinmetall confirmed it will work closely with Czech defence industry partners to fulfil the deal, with subcontracts expected to go to local companies. A letter of intent was signed the same day with the state-owned VOP CZ s.p., outlining cooperation in maintenance and repair operations, along with the transfer of specialised technical know-how.

This partnership comes after the Czech Armed Forces recently received the Leopard 2A4 tanks and Büffel vehicles, refurbished and supplied by Rheinmetall under separate agreements. The deliveries were part of a defence cooperation framework between the Czech Republic and Germany, in which Berlin has supported Prague’s modernisation efforts as a gesture of solidarity following Czech military aid to Ukraine.

The Leopard 2A4, originally developed in the late 1970s but upgraded extensively over time, is renowned for its firepower, armour protection, and battlefield survivability. The Büffel armoured recovery vehicle, based on the Leopard chassis, provides critical battlefield support by towing, repairing, or recovering disabled tanks in combat zones.

By securing long-term maintenance, the Czech Ministry aims to ensure these platforms remain combat-ready for decades, while also building domestic technical capabilities through industrial cooperation. Defence analysts note that such agreements are not just about hardware upkeep — they strengthen NATO interoperability, improve logistics resilience, and ensure that frontline assets remain fully operational during periods of heightened security tensions in Europe.

With this deal, the Czech Republic continues its steady modernisation drive, replacing older Soviet-era equipment with Western-standard platforms, a move widely seen as bolstering the country’s role within NATO’s collective defence posture.