First 20 out of 100 Leopard 2A6 tanks Finland acquired from the Netherlands have arrived.

The main battle tanks acquired from Holland will be delivered to Finland between 2015 and 2019. The purchase price is 199,9 million Euro. The acquisition will secure the striking force of the Army until the 2030’s.

This acquisition does not require any extra financing but is included in the budget planned for the defence administration.

Other options for this acquisition would have been to upgrade the life cycle for the Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks that the Finnish Defence Forces use today or to buy new main battle tanks. The cost for a life cycle upgrade of the Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks to Leopard 2A6 level would have been approx. 5 million Euro per tank and for acquiring new Leopard main battle tanks approx. 10 million Euro per tank.

The used Leopard 2A6 main battle tanks that will now be acquired were modernized between 2000 and 2006 and their performance is considerably better than the performance of the main battle tanks now in use by the Finnish Army. The new main battle tanks have greater fire-power, better developed ballistic protection and a system for the leader to independently act in the dark as well as an inside splinter protection.

The main battle tank acquisition also includes spare parts for ten years, inside simulators, maintenance simulators, special tools and testing equipment as well as ammunition.

The Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks that the Finnish Defence Forces use today will continue to be in operative use and be used by the reserve until the end of their life cycle. They will also be used for driver’s training and as spare parts for the new main battle tanks.