German Leopard tanks for Czechia to be delivered in the spring

The 29 Leopard tanks which Germany has assigned to Czechia and Slovakia as compensation for those they sent to Ukraine will be refurbished and delivered in the spring, Armin Papperger, head of German arms company Rheinmetall, told the news magazine Stern. Germany has promised Slovakia 15 and Czechia 14 Leopard tanks as part of a so-called circular exchange. These are supposed to be decommissioned and refurbished units from Rheinmetall's stocks. Meanwhile, Germany is facing increasing pressure to supply more Leopards to Ukraine or at least to allow their re-export from third countries.