Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Ivan Anušić Signs Contracts in Berlin for the Delivery of 44 Leopard 2A8 Tanks

In the presence of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Andrej Plenković, and the Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Friedrich Merz, the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, Ivan Anušić, on Wednesday, 10 December 2025, signed the agreed order confirmation for the delivery of 44 Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks to the Croatian Army, in Berlin.

Earlier that day, at the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia, Minister Anušić also signed a supplementary contract with KNDS Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG for the delivery of simulators and associated equipment, as well as a five-year extended warranty contract, effective from the delivery of the first tank.

These signatures mark the beginning of the implementation of a strategic modernisation project aimed at enhancing the armoured and mechanised capabilities of the Croatian Army. The total value of the procurement of 44 Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks, together with the supplementary contracts for simulators and extended warranty services, amounts to €1,483,938,969.77.

Prime Minister Plenković emphasised: “Croatia, in line with a number of EU Member States, has decided to make use of the EU SAFE financial instrument. Off the €1.7 billion approved for Croatia, part of these funds will be allocated to the procurement of 44 Leopard 2A8 tanks. Croatia is gradually phasing out Eastern-origin military equipment and transitioning to Western systems. Our partnership with Germany, through this and other projects, is one of the key pillars for our continued cooperation in the field of defence.”

Defence Minister Ivan Anušić underlined: “Equipping the Croatian Army with the state-of-the-art Leopard 2A8 tanks, represents a continuation of the long-term modernisation of the Armed Forces and the transition from Eastern to Western military technology. After more than 15 years of neglect, the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the Ministry of Defence have, since 2016, systematically invested in equipping and strengtheneing the capabilities of the Croatian Armed Forces. In today’s challenging geopolitical environment, Croatia must have a capable, well-equipped and effective military, which is the foundation of our national security.”

“This process is being further reinforced through the introduction of mandatory basic military training and the continued improvement of professional standard of the members of the Armed Forces. Croatia’s victorious Armed Forces must never again be neglected,” the Minister concluded.

The Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Tihomir Kundid, stated: “The pace of equipping and modernisation is enabling a significant increase in overall combat capability. The Leopard 2A8 tanks we have procured will significantly enhance the manoeuvring and firepower capabilities of the Armed Forces, while providing the highest possible level of protection for their crews. These tanks represent the most advanced armoured combat vehicle technology available today.”

Minister Anušić also explained that, in addition to the contracts signed for 44 Leopard 2A8 tanks and 18 Caesar MK2 self-propelled howitzers, contracts for counter-drone protection systems and for the procurement of 420 Tatra heavy tactical trucks are scheduled to be signed by the end of the year. Together, these four major procurements are valued at approximately €2 billion including VAT. With the exception of the counter-drone protection systems, the remaining three capabilities will be financed through the EU SAFE financial instrument.

Joint Procurement of Leopard 2A8 Tanks with the German Ministry of Defence

The joint procurement of the Leopard 2A8 tanks is being implemented in cooperation between the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Croatia and the Federal Ministry of Defence of the Federal Republic of Germany.

The German Federal Ministry of Defence is conducting the joint procurement process on behalf of all participating partner nations — Norway, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Croatia.

Through the EU SAFE instrument, €1,140,387,021 will be financed between 2026 and 2030. The remaining €343,551,948.77, covering extended warranty services, economic price adjustments and VAT, will be provided from the state budget by 2033. Delivery of the Leopard 2A8 tanks is expected between 2028 and 2030.

For the military equipment transferred by the Republic of Croatia to Ukraine at the end of 2024, the German Federal Ministry of Defence transferred €144,800,000 to the Croatian state budget under the Ministry of Defence allocation. These funds are intended for the procurement of the new Leopard 2A8 tanks, thereby effectively reducing the national cost of the procurement by the same amount.

On the initiative of, and in cooperation with the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of Croatia transferred to Ukraine a number of M-84 tanks and M-80 infantry fighting vehicles, together with associated spare parts and ammunition, with a total value of €144,800,000.

Leopard 2A8 – the Most Advanced Main Battle Tank

The procurement of the Leopard 2A8 main battle tank represents a key milestone in the modernisation of the Croatian Army and its adaptation to the evolving new security environment in Europe. It is the latest generation of the proven German Leopard 2 platform, developed and manufactured by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall.

For the Croatian Armed Forces, the transition from the M-84 tank to the Leopard 2A8 represents a technological leap of nearly four decades — from a Soviet-era tank concept of the 1980s to a modern, fully digitalised combat system integrating active protection and full NATO interoperability. The Leopard 2A8 will therefore serve as the foundation of a new generation of the Croatian Army’s armoured forces.

Unlike earlier variants, the Leopard 2A8 integrates the Trophy Active Protection System (APS) as a standard capability, and features reinforced armour protection. The tank is further distinguished by advanced sensors, command-and-control and communication systems, and the digitalisation of almost all subsystems — from power distribution to fire control and crew interfaces.