• DOUBTS How much will they cost, where will they come from... The unknowns of the Spanish Leopard

  • Material Spanish Leopards are viable if conditioned

The Defense Minister, Margarita Robles, has offered figures for the first time on the Leopard battle tanks that she is going to send to Ukraine.

As explained in an appearance in the plenary session of the Congress of Deputies, the Ministry of Defense is repairing

six Leopard 2A4 tanks

, which is an advanced section, which will be sent to Ukraine at the beginning of spring along with the rest of the armored vehicles of the allied countries.

"We are working in full coordination with our allies," the minister stated in her appearance.

"What I can tell you in advance is that Spain is

repairing to update

an advanced section of Leopard 2A4 that will be made up of six Leopard 2A4 vehicles to update them because they were necessary, with the possibility that if more were necessary, it could increase that number", assured Robles.

During her speech, the minister also explained that Spain has some Leopard 2A6s in use that cannot be sent because they are "

necessary for our national defense"

.

That is the reason why it has been decided to keep the Leopard 2A4 up to date, which since 2012 have been hibernating in the Casetas logistics center in Zaragoza.

Despite the fact that Spain waited until Germany took the step of sending its Leopards to decide to participate in the formation of an armored unit for Ukraine, once the decision was made, the Ministry decided to review the 53 Leopards hibernating in Casetas.

Of these, approximately 20 could be subjected to

a review of the fourth step

, the most exhaustive, to condition them and send them to the front.

This review is being carried out by the defense contractor Santa Bárbara at its facilities in Seville, where five cars arrived at first, and now this sixth armored vehicle has been added.

In addition to sending these main battle tanks, Spain has already launched a training program for the soldiers who

will drive and maintain the Leopards,

which require daily maintenance when in use.

Last week, 55 soldiers arrived at the San Gregorio maneuver field (Zaragoza) to receive specific training.

These officers will train for several weeks, with the aim that in the spring their incorporation to the front will be coordinated with the arrival of the Leopards they are going to use.

In this field of maneuvers is the only Leopard simulator that Defense has and that Indra set up decades ago.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

  • Ukraine

  • Daisy Robles

  • Ministry of Defence