In the context of a controversy over the T-72 tank modernization program, the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic indicated that they are currently assessing the costs associated with it and the impact of the work carried out on the platform so that, in the future, these may be transferred to Ukraine in order to strengthen its armored fleet. The proposal in question was put forward by the Chief of the General Staff, Karel Řehka, who argued that the decision to carry out this project was made before the start of the Russian invasion in 2022 and that at that time it was the only option available due to budgetary limitations to maintain a combat-ready tank force.
Quoting some of his official statements: “The decision to modernize the T-72 M4CZ tank was made long before the war in Ukraine and before the offer to donate the German Leopard 2A4 tanks. Moreover, it coincided with the lack of financial resources for the purchase of new tanks, and the only option to keep the tank army combat-ready was to modernize the existing equipment (…) We want to evaluate the funds already invested in the modernization of the tank. After completing the necessary work, I intend to recommend to the Government of the Czech Republic the donation of these tanks to Ukraine, in line with the security interests of our country.”
The remarks of this Czech military authority respond to a recent article in local media accusing the Ministry of Defense of allegedly wasting hundreds of millions on the modernization of the Army’s T-72s, while a batch of more advanced Leopard 2A4 tanks from Germany had recently been incorporated. For this reason, the Ministry of Defense also stated that the decision had been made under the previous administration, but that during the current government’s mandate the scope of the modernization program was reduced to accelerate timelines and cut costs; adding that work had already begun at the state-owned company VOP CZ’s facilities, making it unfeasible to cancel the program entirely at this stage.
The arrival of the Leopard 2A4 tanks from German inventories, in turn, was part of a compensation for Prague’s transfer of T-72M1 tanks to Kyiv, which was completed in April of this year. The donation of these Western-made tanks provided a breath of fresh air for the Czech Republic, which had been seriously constrained in budgetary terms to move forward with the purchase of a new fleet of vehicles prior to the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, something acknowledged by one of its top military authorities.
At present, the situation is different, with the Czech government pushing for a future acquisition of the most advanced German tanks available, namely the Leopard 2A8. This model has been specifically requested by the Czech Army, which stressed that its rapid incorporation is necessary to adapt to what it calls a “deterioration in the security situation.” In the first stage, the country would move forward with the purchase of a fleet of 44 units for approximately €1.3 billion, with an option to increase the number to 58 tanks; these would be complemented by up to 19 specialized variants of the model (engineering, recovery, bridge, and training).
Images used for illustrative purposes
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