Croatia to Replace M-84 Tanks Sent to Ukraine with German-Funded Leopard 2A8s
Croatia will purchase fifty Leopard 2A8 tanks for German funds received from the transfer of its old tanks and infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine. The Croatian media Vijesti reported on this. Defense Ministers of two countries--Ivan Anusic and Boris Pistorius--signed a letter of intent expressing the countries' readiness to transfer Croatian armored vehicles, including spare parts and ammunition, to Ukraine in exchange for compensation from Germany to be used to purchase 50 Leopard 2A8 tanks.
These funds will partially cover the order of new equipment. Croatia will thus join the international joint procurement program Leopard 2A8. In addition to Germany, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Sweden, Italy, and the Netherlands have already joined the program.
Military assistance to Ukraine
Croatia is planning to transfer 30 M-84 tanks and 30 M-80 infantry fighting vehicles "from storage." The latter are already in service with the Defense Forces, having been delivered as part of military aid from Slovenia.
Despite their similarity to the Soviet-era BMP-1 and BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles, the Yugoslav M-80s are completely different in design. They are equipped with a 20 mm HS.804 (M-55) automatic cannon and bulletproof armor.
Transportation of M80A infantry fighting vehicles from Slovenia, June 2022, Photo credits: 24ur.com
At the same time, M-84s will be transferred to Ukraine for the first time. These vehicles are a localized copy of the exported Soviet-era T-72M1 tanks manufactured under license in Yugoslavia. After the breakup of the country, the newly formed Croatia inherited a fleet of 84 M-84 tanks.
Since 2008, all of them have been modernized to the M-84A4 Sniper level, and as of 2023, most of them have undergone major repairs and updated communication systems. Compared to the original T-72M, the Croatian M-84A4 has better firepower due to the modern DBR-84 ballistic computer, which works in conjunction with the all-weather day/night gunner's SCS-84 sight. The vehicle's propulsion system was also improved: the tank received a new 1,000-horsepower V46-TK diesel engine and improved turret rotation and vertical gun guidance drives.
At the same time, the level of protection has not changed: during the modernization, the equipment did not receive any hinged armor or dynamic protection packages.
Croatian M-84A4 Sniper.
Photo credits: fire2.hr
According to the local media outlet Jutarnji, the Croatian army currently has about 70 M-84 tanks in service, which are "in very good condition and well maintained."