On November 15, 2022, the Slovak Ministry of Defense signed agreements with the German Ministry of Defense and the German Rheinmetall group to receive 15 Leopard 2A4 tanks. The equipment is transferred by the German side free of charge as compensation for 30 infantry fighting vehicles BMP-1, which Slovakia will transfer from the presence of Ukraine "in the coming weeks." All costs of this next transaction under the German "Ringtausch" ("Ring Exchange") program for the transfer of German military equipment to Eastern European countries as compensation for the transfer of Soviet-style military equipment by these countries to Ukraine will be fully covered by the German government.
Leopard 2A4 tanks (c) Krauss-Maffei WegmannLeopard 2A4 tanks transferred to Slovakia previously belonged to "various operating countries", and after their decommissioning were bought by Rheinmetal Group, which will now carry out their deconservation, repair and partial modernization.
Deliveries of tanks to Slovakia will be made from December 2022 to the end of 2023. The delivery will also include ammunition, training of crews and technical personnel, as well as spare parts and logistical support. The training of tank drivers will begin in Germany "in the next few weeks." [...]
Earlier in October, a similar agreement with the German Ministry of Defense and the Rheinmetall group was concluded by the Czech Ministry of Defense, which will receive 14 Leopard 2A4 tanks and one BPz 3 Buff armored recovery vehicle based on the same tank as compensation for T-72M1 tanks previously transferred by the Czech Republic with storage in Ukraine.
The Slovak Ministry of Defense announced that 15 Leopard 2A4 tanks being received will enter service with the only regular tank battalion of the Slovak army stationed in Trebisov, which is part of the 2nd mechanized Brigade. Now the battalion is armed with 30 T-72M1 tanks, and it is stated that 15 Leopard 2A4 tanks "will strengthen the tank battalion by 50%."
