Zagreb (Agencies): Croatia is set to procure Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks (MBTs) and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), as announced by Croatian Vice-President and Defence Minister Ivan Anuši? in parliament on November 5. Responding to a parliamentary question, Anuši? stated that Croatia would acquire 40-50 Leopard 2A8s, with serial production beginning after the contract is signed and deliveries expected two years later.
The cost of the MBTs will be reduced by the financial support Croatia will receive from Germany for providing armored vehicles to Ukraine, under a letter of intent (LoI) signed between the two countries. Anuši? and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius signed the LoI in Berlin on October 28, agreeing to deliver 30 M-84 tanks and 30 M-80 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) from Croatian stocks to Ukraine, including spare parts and ammunition.
On the day of the signing, Pistorius stated, “The first tanks are to be delivered to Ukraine this year… The fact that Croatia is striving for the joint procurement of Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks with us strengthens Germany as an industrial location and ensures common standards within NATO.”
According to Anuši?, this will be the largest procurement for the Croatian Army since the Homeland War (war of independence). In addition to the Leopard 2A8 MBTs, Croatia will receive eight Bradley IFVs and sign a contract with the US for HIMARS by the end of 2024.