333 Leopard 2 Tanks for Greece

(Source: German Ministry of Defence; issued Aug. 4, 2005)
(Issued in German only; unofficial translation by deefnse-aerospace.com)

Greece will receive 333 Leopard 2 main battle tanks and other vehicles from the German Federal Armed Forces.

The Secretary-General for arms planning and defense investments in the Greek Ministry of Defense, Georgios Zorbas, and the head of the armaments department in the German Ministry of Defense, Joerg , signed in Berlin today a contract covering the supply to Greece of a total of 333 Leopard 2 main battle tanks as well as further support vehicles from surplus stocks of the German Federal Armed Forces.

The vehicles will be refurbished and reconditioned before their delivery to the Greek armed forces by German industry, with the participation of Greek industry.

Greece Purchases Leopard 2 MBTs

(Source: Krauss-Maffei Wegmann; issued Aug. 4, 2005)

MUNICH --- In Berlin yesterday, Greek government representatives signed a contract for the purchase of 183 used Leopard 2 A4 and 150 Leopard 1 A5 main battle tanks (MBTs) from Bundeswehr (German Federal Army) reserves.

The deal between the German and Greek governments involves a substantial work package for Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, Europe's market leader in armoured wheeled and tracked vehicles.

"The Greek government's decision to purchase further Leopard tanks underlines yet again the undisputed top ranking of this Krauss-Maffei Wegmann product on the international market", commented Frank Haun, managing director and deputy CEO at KMW.

Krauss-Maffei Wegmann will have a share of around 150 million Euro in this governmental transaction for repair and technical modification of the Leopard 2 A4 MBT and for supply of special tools. In addition, KMW will provide repair capabilities for Leopard 2 A4 in Greece from 2006 on.

Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG is the European market leader in wheeled and tracked armoured vehicles. With a workforce of around 2500 and a comprehensive systems capability, KMW, as a leading systems supplier, produces and maintains a product range extending from air-transportable and anti-mine-protected wheeled vehicles (the Mungo and Dingo) via reconnaissance, anti-aircraft and artillery systems (Fennek and the Armoured Howitzer 2000) up to and including main battle tanks (Leopard 1 and 2) and armoured-personnel carriers (Puma).

The armed forces of twenty-five nations around the globe place their faith in KMW's mission systems.

Senator Hill has released details of the machines at the Amazing World of Science exhibition in Canberra.

He says the machines being developed by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) with international companies will be used in both overseas and onshore military operations.

Among the prototypes is an unmanned ground vehicle capable of navigating itself through rough terrain.

There is also an underwater vehicle known as the 'Wayamba' , which would be able to detect mines and obstacles, and conduct surveys and communications without surfacing.

Senator Hill says the robots will reduce the risk for Australian soldiers.

"The more that we can send autonomous land vehicles, air vehicles, sea vehicles to do tasks that previously had to be crewed by men and women, the less chance [there is] we'll suffer injury or death," he said.

Courtsey: ABCNews Online