The Finnish Defence Forces will upgrade its rolling stock with used tanks from the Netherlands. The new equipment will be delivered in 2015.
The military deal will see Finland purchase 100 used German made Leopard 2A6 battle tanks for 200 million euros from the Netherlands.
Finnish army officials are well-acquainted with the model, since it has been using 139 older Leopard 2A4 tanks. The vast majority of the older model tanks were acquired used from Germany between 2002 and 2004; more were purchased in 2009.
Colonel Jukka Valkeajärvi said that the newer 2A6 tank has far better performance capabilities than the older model.
“We’re talking about two completely different tanks. Roughly said, the current tank is quite good, but its performance is not quite what it should be nowadays. This 2A6 model is a 21st century tank,” Valkeajärvi added.
The army colonel would not say what would become of the older stock, as a separate decision needs to be made on its fate. Older tanks acquired from the former Soviet Union and Germany were taken out of use to make way for the Leopard 2A4 tanks.
Note: It would be fascinating to know what use Finland can have for these old Dutch tanks. Certainly not to stop Russian tank forces. Anyway, it seems the Dutch must be laughing all the way to the bank
Read more: Finland in 200 million-euro used tank deal with the Netherlands | Yle Uutiset | yle.fi
The military deal will see Finland purchase 100 used German made Leopard 2A6 battle tanks for 200 million euros from the Netherlands.
Finnish army officials are well-acquainted with the model, since it has been using 139 older Leopard 2A4 tanks. The vast majority of the older model tanks were acquired used from Germany between 2002 and 2004; more were purchased in 2009.
Colonel Jukka Valkeajärvi said that the newer 2A6 tank has far better performance capabilities than the older model.
“We’re talking about two completely different tanks. Roughly said, the current tank is quite good, but its performance is not quite what it should be nowadays. This 2A6 model is a 21st century tank,” Valkeajärvi added.
The army colonel would not say what would become of the older stock, as a separate decision needs to be made on its fate. Older tanks acquired from the former Soviet Union and Germany were taken out of use to make way for the Leopard 2A4 tanks.
Note: It would be fascinating to know what use Finland can have for these old Dutch tanks. Certainly not to stop Russian tank forces. Anyway, it seems the Dutch must be laughing all the way to the bank
Read more: Finland in 200 million-euro used tank deal with the Netherlands | Yle Uutiset | yle.fi
