Ukraine conflict: Netherlands orders Leopard 2A4 tanks for Kyiv

The Netherlands has ordered 14 Leopard 2A4 tanks from Rheinmetall that it and Denmark are procuring for Ukraine, with the first vehicle to be delivered in January 2024. (Rheinmetall)

The Netherlands has ordered 14 Leopard 2A4 tanks from Rheinmetall that it and Denmark are procuring for Ukraine, the German company announced in a press release on 27 June.

The Danish and Dutch ministries of defence (MoDs) announced on 20 April that their countries would jointly procure the tanks. The two countries have now signed an agreement on the procurement with the German government and Rheinmetall. Tanks from Leopard 2A4 user countries will be overhauled, with the first vehicle to be delivered in January 2024, according to Rheinmetall.

The Danish and Dutch MoDs said in a joint statement on 20 April that the two countries would share the EUR165 million (USD181 million) cost of the Leopard 2A4s to be donated to Ukraine. Denmark and the Netherlands thus joined the coalition of countries operating the Leopard 2 formed on 25 January to supply the tanks to Ukraine. Germany leads a coalition of countries that operate Leopard 2A6s and Poland leads a coalition of Leopard 2A4 operators. The first four Leopard 2A4s arrived in Ukraine on 24 February.

In early February Denmark and the Netherlands, along with Germany, formed a coalition to donate at least 100 Leopard 1A5 tanks to Ukraine. The initial goal is to deliver 80 Leopard 1A5s for two battalions, increasing to at least 100 during 2024.