Croatia has signed a major agreement with the German government to procure 44 Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks, marking one of the country’s largest defence acquisitions to date.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Ivan Anušić signed the order confirmation in Berlin on 10 December, in a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. On the same day, Anušić concluded a separate contract with KNDS Deutschland covering simulators, equipment and a five-year extended warranty beginning with delivery of the first tank.
The full package — tanks, simulators and support — is valued at €1.48 billion.
EU SAFE funding and shift to Western systems
Prime Minister Plenković said Croatia will finance part of the procurement through the EU’s SAFE instrument, noting that the country is “gradually abandoning eastern military technology” in favour of Western systems and deeper defence cooperation with Germany.
Defence Minister Anušić called the 2A8 “the most modern tank of its class,” adding that the purchase continues Croatia’s long-term effort to rebuild and modernise the Armed Forces after years of underinvestment. He pledged further improvements to training and standards for military personnel, saying the Croatian Army “must never again be neglected.”
Chief of Defence Lt. Gen. Tihomir Kundid said the acquisition will significantly enhance manoeuvre, firepower and crew protection, describing the 2A8 as “the most modern technology available in the armoured domain.”
Part of multinational 2A8 procurement
Croatia’s order is part of a broader German-led joint framework that includes Norway, Lithuania, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. Under this scheme, €1.14 billion of Croatia’s total will be funded through SAFE between 2026–2030, while €343.5 million in warranty, price adjustments and VAT will be covered by the national budget through 2033.
Deliveries are scheduled from 2028 to 2030.
Germany has also transferred €144.8 million to Croatia to offset Zagreb’s 2024 transfer of M-84 tanks and M-80 IFVs — with spares and ammunition — to Ukraine, reducing the overall cost of the 2A8 programme.
Leopard 2A8: next-generation capability
The Leopard 2A8, built by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall, is the latest evolution of the proven Leopard 2 platform. For Croatia, it represents nearly a 40-year technological leap, moving from the Yugoslav-designed M-84 to a modern, fully digital NATO-standard system.
Key features include:
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Trophy active protection system (APS) as standard
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Upgraded armour and survivability features
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Advanced sensors and fire-control suite
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Modern C2 and communications systems
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Full digitalisation across mobility, power management and crew interfaces
