Sweden buys 44 latest version of German-made Leopard 2 tanks

ATHENS

Sweden will buy 44 Leopard 2A8, the latest version of German-made Leopard 2 main battle tanks, the Swedish Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

As part of a deal worth 17.2 billion Swedish kronor ($1.54 billion), 66 of Leopard2A5 tanks in the Swedish army’s inventory will also be modernized to the latest standards, a ministry statement said.

It said that modernization of more 44 Leopard2A5 tanks is already underway and consequently, Sweden will have 154 modern Leopard2A8 tanks in the coming years.

Moreover, the country will modernize CV-90 combat vehicles by 2030 in a deal worth 5 billion Swedish kronor.

Commenting on the issue, Defense Minister Pal Jonson said: “The deteriorating security situation led us to now carry out the largest rearmament of program since the 1950s, and this investment in tanks and combat vehicles is an important part of that.”