Double-digit million dollar amount: Berlin receives Swiss tanks as a friendship prize

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This was fought over for what seemed like an eternity. At the end of November, the Federal Council gave the green light: Switzerland will supply Germany with 25 decommissioned Leopard 2 tanks. However, the exact amount remains a state secret.

“The sales price is in the low, double-digit million range,” Defense Minister Viola Amherd (61) revealed on Monday at the request of SVP national councilor Stefanie Heimgartner (36). The parties agreed not to disclose the exact sales price.

New tanks cost many times more

But it seems clear: Germany seems to be able to receive the Swiss tanks at a friendly price. After all, the budget committee of the German Bundestag released no less than 525 million euros for 18 Leopard 2 tanks in May – that is almost 30 million each. However, these are new. The same cannot be said about the Swiss tanks.

The federal government has also included an additional clause in the sales contract. The German arms company Rheinmetall has committed to awarding contracts to Swiss companies “up to the full purchase price”, as Federal Councilor Amherd explained. The bottom line is that the federal government is very happy with the tank deal.

The army wants to give the remaining tanks a new purpose

Germany had asked Switzerland if it could take over some of the 96 tanks that had been lying idle in eastern Switzerland for years. The Swiss Leos are intended to replace tanks that Berlin has supplied to Ukraine.

The Swiss tanks were only taken out of service because Germany had guaranteed that they would not go to Ukraine. Instead, they should “stay in Germany or with NATO or EU partners to plug their own gaps.”

The Swiss army now wants to use the remaining 71 decommissioned tanks for itself. Up to 62 units will be reactivated and modernized for the force. Others need to be prepared for training or used as spare parts and assembly donors. (dba)

Source:Blick