Increased Details Emerge on German Tank Purchase: The Leopard 2 Contract
In a significant move to strengthen its defense capabilities, the German Federal Defense Ministry, under the leadership of Minister Boris Pistorius, has unveiled a massive military procurement program. The plan is aimed at expanding the Bundeswehr's armored forces, with a focus on acquiring up to 1,000 Leopard 2 main battle tanks and approximately 2,500 Boxer armored personnel carriers (APCs).
The acquisition, estimated to cost around €25 billion ($29.4 billion), is part of a broader strategy to create seven new NATO brigades to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank. This strategic move is in response to rising security concerns, particularly due to Russia’s aggression.
The order for the Leopard 2 tanks, including the latest variant Leopard 2A8, and the plan to acquire Puma infantry fighting vehicles, is expected to be placed by the end of 2025, with deliveries continuing through the end of the 2030s. This procurement would more than triple Germany’s current Leopard 2 tank fleet, which stands at just over 300 tanks in various variants. The Boxer APC fleet would increase more than sevenfold, from about 330 currently in service.
The vehicles will be produced domestically by German defense industrial consortia such as Rheinmetall and KNDS Deutschland, supporting Germany's role as a NATO ground forces hub. Each GTK Boxer armored fighting vehicle costs around 15.77 million euros, with 2500 new wheeled GTK Boxer armored fighting vehicles planned for production. The 123 Boxer armored vehicles ordered under the "traffic light" coalition are set to be delivered between 2025 and 2030.
The black-red federal government of CDU/CSU and SPD is aiming to modernize and comprehensively equip the German armed forces. The government is investing billions of euros in the armament of the Bundeswehr, with around €95 billion flowing into the armament this year alone. By 2029, the black-red federal government plans to provide 649 billion euros in defense spending to achieve the new five-percent target of NATO.
The purchase of combat and armored fighting vehicles is expected to cost 25 billion euros. The plan by the Union and Social Democrats involves setting up seven new tank brigades, each consisting of a combat tank battalion with about 90 Leopard 2 combat tanks and two armored fighting vehicle battalions with a total of around 180 armored fighting vehicles.
Germany currently has around 400 older GTK Boxer wheeled armored vehicles and 350 Schützenpanzer Puma infantry fighting vehicles, with another 50 on order. The GTK Boxer is armed with the advanced 30-mm machine cannon of the Puma armored fighting vehicle, and the single-barreled MK 30 can theoretically fire up to 700 shots per minute.
However, the Russian regime has mocked the new five-percent target of NATO. Despite this, the German government remains committed to strengthening its defense capabilities and enhancing Europe's overall defense posture.
The massive military procurement program announced by the German Federal Defense Ministry, led by Minister Boris Pistorius, is not only focused on defense capabilities but also encompasses general news and politics, as it responds to rising security concerns caused by Russia's aggression and aims to create seven new NATO brigades to reinforce NATO's eastern flank. The acquisition of combat and armored fighting vehicles, such as the Leopard 2 tanks and Boxer armored personnel carriers, is a significant part of this strategic move, which is expected to cost approximately €25 billion.
