According to the findings of the Value for Money Unit of the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic, which conducted a review of defence spending in 2020, all tanks in the Slovak Armed Forces are beyond their useful life. According to the Comprehensive Defence Assessment of the Slovak Republic for 2021, the Slovak armed forces lack modern weapon systems in particular, including tanks. The current state of Slovak tank armament is not ideal. We wrote: The Defence Committee mainly dealt with the planned acquisitions of the Army for this year

Several European countries have agreed to purchase new, modern tanks in recent months, and if Slovakia wants to avoid long waiting times, the ministry and the army must take a clear stance and start acting. Although the German tanks will significantly increase the strength and capability of the 14th Tank Battalion, it is necessary to take swift action on the purchase of new tanks for the Slovak Armed Forces. Together with the 30 T-72M1 tanks, Slovakia will have a total of 45 tanks after delivery of all promised Leopards, reaching the size of one NATO tank battalion.

The first Leopard 2A4, which Slovakia will receive in the second half of December 2022, has already passed military tests and has thus been successfully introduced into the armament of the Slovak Armed Forces. The remaining tanks will be delivered continuously this year after they undergo repairs at Rheinmetall Landsysteme in Germany. Members of the 14th Tank Battalion Trebišov, the 42nd Supply Base of the Slovak Armed Forces and representatives of the modernisation section of the Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic received the second Leopard 2A4 in Germany. Picture: Slovak Armed Forces take delivery of the second German Leopard 2A4 tank | Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic Modern tanks are currently in high demand and therefore need to be addressed as soon as possible. While the 15 German Leopard 2A4s will substantially increase the combat capabilities of the tank battalion and the ground forces in general, there is also a need to look at the possibility of acquiring new modern tanks. Germany has promised Slovakia a total of 15 Leopard 2A4 tanks as compensation for the 30 BVP-1 infantry fighting vehicles Slovakia donated to Ukraine. The Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (AF SR) have taken over the second German Leopard 2A4 tank.

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