The system works as follows: surplus ‘Leopard’ platforms available in certain Member States (the ‘providers’) are leased/rented them for a defined period of time to one or several other interested Member States (the ‘receivers’). The initiative is an important pilot to test a new innovative Pooling & Sharing concept potentially applicable to other areas. Since the dependency on Soviet legacy technology raises a number of concerns it can be anticipated that next-generation MBTs should be more procured from sources that can guarantee security of supply in the longer term.Īgainst this backdrop, the EDA launched in spring 2017 the ‘Optimisation of the Main Battle Tank Capability in Europe with initial focus on Leopard 2 (OMBT-Leo2)’ project. Traditionally, most EU countries use European or Soviet legacy equipment. Modernisation plans for existing main battle tank assets are limited, with no substantial increase of European MBT capabilities to be expected in the short or medium term. The number of MBTs in EU Member States has regularly decreased, from 15.000 in the year 2000 to just 5.000 today. Considering a currently tense security environment, especially along the Eastern European borders, it is of utmost strategic importance that Europeans have the required tank capacities to react swiftly and with the needed operational strength. With their unique ability to provide a combination of mobility, firepower and protection, MBTs are crucial for defending European territory.
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