Croatia, through the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Ivan Anušić, has officialised the purchase of Leopard 2A8 tanks, Caesar artillery systems, anti-drone defense systems, and high-mobility off-road heavy trucks for a total investment of approximately 2.18 billion Euros.
In particular, the Croatian Army will receive forty-four new Leopard 2A8 tanks, 18 mobile howitzers Caesar MK2 155/52 mm, four anti-drone systems, two of which are stationary for the protection of critical military infrastructures and two mobile integrated in vehicles for the needs of the medium infantry brigade, as well as 420 off-road heavy-duty TATRA T-815-7 trucks in the 6×6 and 8×8 versions.
#### Acquisition of Leopard 2A8
The purchase of Leopard 2A8 tanks with simulators, logistical support and extended warranty will take place as part of the joint European framework agreement signed by the Federal Ministry of Defense of Germany who is authorized to sign an amendment to the contract with the company KNDS Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG on behalf of Croatia.
This joint framework agreement, which will be signed this week, will allow the Croatian Defense to more rapidly implement the Leopard 2A8, to sustain lower costs during the life cycle, achieve greater interoperability and deeper cooperation with allies; deliveries of the tanks by KNDS DE are planned from 2028 to 2030.
The total investment is 1.48 billion Euros, of which SAFE will finance 1.1 billion from 2026 to 2030, while 343 million euros, referred to funds for the supply of extended warranty services will be allocated in the state budget until 2033.
#### CAESAR MK2 Howitzers 155/52 mm
The purchase of the CAESAR MK2 155/52 mm mobile howitzers also takes place within the framework of a joint agreement, this time signed by the French Armed Forces / General Armaments Directorate (DGA) with KNDS France also on behalf of Estonia, Bulgaria, Portugal, and Slovenia who have selected this artillery system.
In addition to the mobile artillery, the supply to Croatia also includes observation and target acquisition means, fire control systems, communication and information transfer systems, communication vehicles, armored vehicles, and land-cargo vehicles for the transport of combat ammunition.
The framework agreement for the joint procurement of the CAESAR MK2 howitzers will be signed next week in France and the deadline for delivery is set at 2030.
The value of the investment is 328 million Euros, of which 301 million will be financed by SAFE and the remainder will be allocated in the state budget for the period 2026-2030.
#### C-UAS Systems
The Croatian Defense for the C-UAS system has selected the SKYctrl proposed by the Croatian company Končar-Digital doo which will act as system integrator and producer of part of the equipment developed and produced by the Polish company Advanced Protection Systems.
As part of the agreement between the two companies, it is planned to transfer part of the production of the SKYctrl system to Croatia, with concurrent strengthening of the Croatian professional capacities; long-term maintenance of the system assigned to the Ministry of Defense of Zagreb will also be assured by Končar-Digital doo. Approximately 156 million Euros will be allocated to the program from the state budget for the period 2026-2029; the first phase of the project is scheduled for mid-2027.
#### TATRA T-815-7 Off-road Heavy Trucks
Finally, the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia will receive 420 off-road heavy-duty TATRA T-815-7 trucks, arranged in the 6×6 and 8×8 versions, which will serve to renew the vehicle fleet by increasing logistical mobility.
These vehicles will be purchased within the framework of a joint agreement negotiated between the Ministries of Defense of the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, and the Republic of Croatia and the company Tatra Defense Systems that produces the vehicles.
According to the agreement, the final assembly of the vehicles and their general maintenance will be carried out by the company Đuro Đaković Specijalna vozila dd; this commitment will strengthen Croatian industrial capacities.
The TATRA T-815-7 meets all NATO standards for ballistic and anti-mine/IED protection and presently serves the Armed Forces of 21 NATO member states.
Approximately 212 million Euros will be allocated entirely from SAFE to the program; the 420 TATRA T-815-7 6×6 and 8×8 will be delivered between 2026 and 2030.
Source Republic of Croatia’s Ministry of Defense
Photo credit @KNDS Deutschland, @KNDS France, @Advanced Protection Systems, and @TATRA Trucks
