Tank crew members from the 14 Tank Battalion Trebišov, logistics staff from the 42 Supply Base Martin, and a team of specialists from the Ministry of Defence’s Modernization Department have received the second Leopard 2A4 main battle tank.
Slovakia traded 30 BVP-1 infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine in exchange for 15 Leopard 2A4 MBTs as part of an arms exchange deal with Germany. The remaining 13 Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks are set to arrive in Slovakia by the end of this year. Defence Minister Jaroslav Na? has confirmed that Rheinmetall Landsysteme has comprehensively serviced and repaired the tanks before delivering them to the Slovak military.
The first Leopard 2A4 main battle tank has completed technical and tactical performance parameter trials at the Military Technical and Testing Institute Záhorie, with the Ministry of Defence currently analysing and evaluating the results. To ensure that Slovak tank crews are trained on the Leopard 2A4 main battle tank, Bundeswehr instructors will lead training in all aspects of operating the platform at the Training Center Le as early as this summer.
The first Leopard 2A4 main battle tank delivered to Slovakia is undergoing live-firing tests to verify technical specifications and tactical performance parameters, with the 120mm Rh120 L/44 gun and 7.62mm MG3 machine gun both fired from a static and mobile vehicle. The smoke screen test showed that smoke grenades can generate a thick smoke screen to conceal the tank’s location and movement. Test procedures to verify technical specifications, mobility, ammunition, and ergonomics will be conducted over the next two weeks.
No issues with the main battle tank have been reported, and the trials are expected to end on March 31, 2023.