Croatia intends to use the Leopards to phase out its aging Yugoslav-era T-84 tanks—which are likely to be donated to Ukraine as the replacement goes on.
This month, the Croatian Ministry of Defense announced that it had placed an order for 44 German-made Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks (MBTs), in a deal valued at nearly €1.5 billion ($1.8 billion). The deal was concluded during the recent visit by Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and Deputy Prime Minister/Defense Minister Ivan Anušić, following a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin last week.
It is one of the most significant defense acquisitions for the Balkan nation, a NATO member and former Yugoslav republic. It is part of Croatia’s ongoing efforts to modernize its armed forces and shift away from Yugoslav-era equipment and vehicles.
Zagreb will also obtain 18 CAESAR howitzers, 420 Tatra tucks, and anti-drone systems.
“Croatia is gradually abandoning eastern military technology and moving to Western technology, and the partnership with Germany is one of the ways we continuously strengthen cooperation in the field of defence,” Plenković told reporters.
The purchase was facilitated by a European Union low-cost loan provided to member states under the bloc’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) program. Berlin also provided Zagreb with approximately €144.8 million ($169.2 million) for the 30 M-84A4 Snajper MBTs and 30 M-80 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) that Croatia agreed to transfer to Germany at the end of last year. That hardware, subsequently donated to Ukraine, helped reduce Croatia’s Leopard 2A8 procurement costs.
“We are equipping the Croatian army with the most modern Leopard 2A8 tanks and thus continuing the process of modernizing the armed forces,” added Anušić.
Deliveries of the German-made tanks are scheduled to begin in 2028 and be completed by the end of 2030. In addition to nearly four dozen MBTs, the deal includes simulators, spare parts, full logistical support, and training.
Zagreb previously announced that it had increased its defense budget by 22.2 percent in 2024 and would see a further 18.2 percent increase in 2025. The Balkan nation is now on track to exceed the two percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) NATO goal by 2027. It will reach 2.5 percent by 2027 and 3 percent in 2030.
The M-84 Goes Out, the Leopard 2A8 Comes In
Croatia inherited 72 M-84 tanks following the breakup of Yugoslavia. Most were subsequently upgraded to the M-84A4 Snajper (Sniper) standard. As of last year, 30 remained in service and have since been sent to Germany. It remains unclear when those vehicles could arrive in Ukraine.
The M-84 was the Yugoslavian-made variant of the third-generation Soviet-era T-72 tank. The MBT featured several new improvements, including an upgraded fire-control system and more capable composite armor. It also included three compartments with the drive positioned at the center of the hull.
The tank first entered service with the Yugoslav military in 1984 and saw extensive use during the fractious Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s and early 2000s. The M-84 is or was operated by some of the former Yugoslav republics, and remains in the arsenals of Croatia, Serbia, and Slovenia. In addition, it was adopted by the Kuwaiti Army, with a handful captured and employed by the Iraqi Army during the Gulf War.
The Leopard 2A8 is the latest variant of the German-made MBT that first entered service in October 1979. Produced by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and based on the Leopard 2A7+, the new model is outfitted with several notable improvements, including the “Trophy” Active Protection System and a better all-around (360-degree) awareness system. The upgraded variant features the latest-generation passive multi-layer composite modular armor, comprising steel, tungsten, composite filler, and ceramics.
The 28A model is fitted with a three-man turret that houses the main 120mm L55 smoothbore gun produced by Rheinmetall AG. This is an upgraded version of the L44 gun used on earlier Leopard 2 models. The L55 is reported to be about 1.3 meters (4.2 feet) longer, which increases muzzle velocity and improves accuracy, range, and penetration. The upgraded gun can fire a variety of ordnance, including APFSDS (Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot), HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank), and multipurpose ammunition.
The overall layout of the modernized tanks is similar to other models. It is powered by an upgraded 1,600-hp engine, enabling the Leopard 2A8 to exceed 70 km/h (44 mph).
M-84 vs. Leopard 2A8: A Head-to-Head Comparison
| Tank | M-84 | Leopard 2A8 |
| Year Introduced | 1984 | Not yet introduced (anticipated 2027) |
| Number Built | ~680 | Unknown |
| Length | 9.97 m (32.7 ft) | 9.97 m (32.7 ft) |
| Total Weight, Battle-Ready | ~42 tonnes | ~65–67 tonnes |
| Suspensions | Torsion bar | Reinforced torsion bar |
| Engine | V46-TK diesel (1,000 hp) | 1,500 hp diesel engine, potentially with improved cooling / upgraded for better performance |
| Top Speed | 60–70 km/h (37–43 mph) on road | 65–70 km/h (40–43 mph) on road |
| Range | ~450 km (280 mi) | ~400–450 km (250–280 mi) |
| Armament | 125mm smoothbore cannon with autoloader | 120mm smoothbore cannon |
| Crew | 3 | 4 |
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Shutterstock / paparazzza.
