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The engine block has been partially removed. Just like the gun barrel. Or the DC gearmotor. It is now becoming clear why the federal government only sold the Germans the 25 decommissioned Leopard 2 battle tanks for a “low double-digit” sum of millions. The steel giants are anything but in the line of fire.
This is evident from the sales contract number 4780002844 between the Federal Armaments Office (Armasuisse) and the German arms company Rheinmetall. Only the detailed sales figures are blacked out in the 24-page document. Defense Minister Viola Amherd (61) also did not mention them in the National Council. The exact price remains a state secret – at the request of the German buyers.
In February, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (63) and business colleague Robert Habeck (54) officially asked Switzerland to buy back some of the 96 tanks that had been sitting idle in eastern Switzerland for years. The Leos are intended to replace tanks that Berlin has supplied to Ukraine. After a long struggle, the Federal Council gave the green light at the end of November.
The federal parliament had the impression that Amherd had sold the tanks for a reasonable price. After all, the budget committee of the German Bundestag released 525 million euros in May for 18 Leopard 2 tanks – that is almost 30 million each. However, these are new. This cannot be said about Swiss used tanks.
In addition to engine blocks or gun barrels, many also had the lifting gear, ejector tube or emergency exit hatch covers completely removed. In addition, most tanks that have been mothballed for a long time also suffer from mold. Germany will have to put a lot of money and work into the tanks to make them combat-ready again.
Suddenly a price in the “low double-digit million range” doesn’t seem so bad. The federal government has also negotiated an additional clause. According to Amherd, Rheinmetall has committed to awarding contracts to Swiss companies “up to the full purchase price”. The bottom line is that the federal government is very happy with the tank deal.
The federal government has even obliged the Germans to cover the costs of storage and maintenance if they do not receive the tanks on time. And the sales contract shows: Even for war materials, invoices must be paid net within 30 days.
Source:Blick
I am Liam Livingstone and I work in a news website. My main job is to write articles for the 24 Instant News. My specialty is covering politics and current affairs, which I’m passionate about. I have worked in this field for more than 5 years now and it’s been an amazing journey. With each passing day, my knowledge increases as well as my experience of the world we live in today.
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