After the Swiss Federal Council had already approved the application for the export of 25 Leopard 2 A4s to the manufacturer Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH in Germany, the first nine Leopard main battle tanks of this type were handed over to the manufacturer yesterday and the remaining vehicles have now also been handed over. Most of the tanks were transported by rail, while a total of seven vehicles were transported by road.
No forwarding to Ukraine
The Swiss Armed Forces currently operate 134 value-retained Panzer 87 Leopard 2 A4 tanks (Panzer 87 Leopard 2 A4 WE), which were modernized as part of the 2006 armaments programme. In addition, it has 96 decommissioned Panzer 87 Leopard 2 A4 tanks that have not undergone value retention. In a letter dated February 23, 2023, the German Minister of Economic Affairs, Robert Habeck, and the German Minister of Defence, Boris Pistorius, requested that part of the decommissioned fleet be sold back to the tank manufacturer, the German company Rheinmetall. They had given assurances that the battle tanks would not be passed on to Ukraine. A final destination in Germany or with NATO or EU partners was guaranteed.
Under these conditions, the Swiss parliament approved the decommissioning of the systems and the Federal Council approved the export application from the Federal Office for Defense armasuisse. On November 23, 2023, armasuisse and Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH signed the sales contract. https://militaeraktuell.at/wanted-neuer-advanced-jet-trainer-gesucht/
Contract includes extensive obligations to strengthen Swiss industry
The parties have agreed on a purchase price and additionally on orders from Rheinmetall to Swiss companies from the security-related technology and industrial base (STIB) in the amount of the purchase price. The contract with Rheinmetall therefore contains relevant obligations for strengthening Swiss industry. Services were also agreed for the management of the fire control computer for the active fleet of Leo 2 tanks of the Swiss Armed Forces, which will increase their sustainability.
When overhauling the tanks, Rheinmetall will remove assemblies that can continue to be used for the active fleet operated by the army at no cost and return them to Switzerland. This measure will speed up the sale process and at the same time relieve the pressure on the resources of the army’s logistics base.
Here for further reports about Rheinmetall and here to further reports on the Swiss Armed Forces.
