08 Mei 2013

The deal had indicated himself, and now he is perfect: The federal government acknowledges that it has agreed the sale of modern battle tanks to Indonesia. 104 "Leopard 2" 50 and older "Marder" models may be supplied in the country. (photo : Defense Studies)

Berlin - The German government has approved another controversial deal, the German armaments industry into a crisis zone. This gave the German company Rheinmetall  by the secret, which meets Federal Security Council authorization of exports of 104 battle tanks "Leopard 2", four Büffel ARV (Bergepanzer), three Leguan AVLB bridge-laying tanks (Brückenlegepanzer) and three Kodiak AEV (Pionierpanzer)  in Indonesia. About the upcoming business had previously been the news agency Reuters reported.

Marder 1A2 (photo : Defense Studies)

Apart from said tanks the armaments giant will provide a further 50 armored type "Marder 1A2" to Southeast Asia, in addition to modernize older models of the type for the deal. The previously unknown figures on the billion deal to go from a response of the federal government out of the green Bundestag Katja Keul, the present SPIEGEL ONLINE.

Büffel ARV/Bergepanzer (photo : fahrzeugbilder)

The interest in Indonesia has been known for a long time, but so far, the federal government had kept covered. Indonesia was first asked in the Netherlands for a possible export of "Leopard" tanks, the model is considered one of the most modern battle tank ever. There, but failed on the export Parliament, which made concerns about the human rights situation in Indonesia claimed. Thereupon, Indonesia turned to the Federal Republic.

Kodiak AEV/Pionierpanzer (photo : doppeladler)

Rheinmetall has developed the applications used by the Bundeswehr "Leopard" tanks and the tanks equipped with safety devices and systems for the street fighting in populated areas. Indonesia was interested in this version which is called "MBT Revolution."


Changing export rules

The possible deal with Indonesia had been on a visit to the Chancellor in the summer 2012 issue, then the Indonesian government spoke fairly openly about the interest in the German military vehicles. The Indonesian government said at the time of a routine renewal of the local armed forces and joined a bet against their own people, for example at demonstrations. However, human rights activists were alarmed. Indonesia is not a model country of democracy: In No. 100 the country is listed in the corruption index of Transparency International, Amnesty International speaks of massive human rights violations in individual provinces.

Leguan AVLB/Brückenlegepanzer )photo : Military Today)

With export permits for armored vehicles in third countries by the Federal Security Council, in which all important ministers are represented alongside the Chancellor, Germany changed step by step its previously restrictive rules on arms exports. So far has been that permits for frigates, fast or submarines could also be approved for controversial recipient countries, since it is difficult to engage with these weapons in conflicts inside or violate human rights. Armored vehicles, however, were taboo. "What floats, is what rolling, do not go," was the appropriate dictum of times the long-term Foreign Minister Hans Dietrich Genscher.

See full article : Spiegel

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Switzerland sells 12 surplus Leopard 2 Battle Tanks (Pz 87 Leo) to Canada. The battle tanks supplied without armament and further components will be converted to protected special vehicles.
Following the reduction of military strengths in connection with Armed Forces 95 and Armed Forces XXI, various weapon systems were decommissioned, mothballed, sold, or disposed of. The Leopard 2 Battle Tank (Pz 87 Leo) is one of many systems which are no longer needed in the originally procured quantity. Part of the Pz 87 Leo fleet was therefore mothballed at various storage sites.
From the units of the Pz 87 Leo fleet of the Swiss Armed Forces, which are not foreseen for the quality maintenance program and not among the vehicles designated as spare material, 12 vehicles were now sold to Canada, which is already operating Leopard 2 Battle Tanks.

The vehicles supplied to the Canadian Forces will be converted to support vehicles. The Pz 87 Leo are not sold in fully equipped condition. Among others, the following assemblies are removed: armament, radio-and inter-phone systems. The components which are not supplied are used as spare parts by the Swiss Armed Forces.
armasuisse, the Competence Center for the procurement of complex systems, was tasked by the Head DDPS with the performance of the contract and the sale of the surplus equipment.
The export of surplus armaments is subject to the War Material Ordinance, and to approval by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) in Bern. The sale of the Pz 87 Leo is in compliance with the Federal Council decision of 10 March 2006 regarding the utilization of surplus war material of the Swiss Armed Forces. The parties agreed not to disclose the terms of sale.
Background on Pz 87 Leo
The Pz 87 Leo (Leopard 2) was procured for the mechanised units of the Swiss Armed Forces with Armament Program 84 (AP 84). Of the 380 Pz 87 Leo originally deployed with the forces between 1987 and 1993, 134 combat vehicles were subjected to a quality maintenance program with Armament Program 06. The battle tanks, which have reached the first half of their planned service life, are adapted to the changed requirements with the necessary maintenance work.
Of the Pz 87 Leo decommissioned in connection with the reduction, twelve vehicles were converted to armoured engineer and mine clearing vehicles. This special tank, which is used in combination with the Pz 87 Leo, is based on the tank chassis with corresponding new superstructures and additional equipment for the engineer service and for mine clearing.
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Kuwait's decision whether to modernise its fleet of M-84 main battle tanks (MBTs) could spur the revival of production of the vehicles by Serbia and Croatia, Serbian media reported on 17 June.
Senior defence ministry officials from Serbia and Croatia met to discuss possible modernisation strategies for the vehicles, which could be at the core of a significant defence collaboration between the two republics.
"Tank production can be revived if there proves to be a need," said Stevan Nikcevic, general director of Jugoimport SDPR, which co-ordinates the domestic defence industry. "I cannot say anything about the details of the commercial contract with Kuwait. We have transported the M-84 AB1 tank there and thus the modernised version and demonstrated its capabilities. The Kuwaitis were pleased with what they saw."
The M-84 main battle tank is a Yugoslavian version of the Soviet T-72. Some changes from the T-72 include a domestic fire-control system, improved composite armor, and a 1000-hp engine. The M-84 entered service with the Yugoslav People's Army in 1984. The improved M-84A version entered service a few years later.
There were about 240 factories from ex-Yugoslavia which directly participated in production of the M-84 MBT plus about 1000 of them which participated indirectly. Main factories were:Ðuro Ðakovic, Slavonski Brod, final tank production
FAMOS, Pale, engine
Iskra Fotona, Ljubljana, lasers and electronics
Zrak Sarajevo, Sarajevo, optics
Slovenske Železarne, Ravne, steel and armour
Prvi Partizan, Užice, ammunition
Pretis, Vogosca, ammunition
Prva Petoletka, Trstenik, hydraulics
21 Maj, Rakovica, manual turret traverse Bratstvo, Travnik, main gun
Metalski zavodi Tito, Skoplje, multiplicator
11 oktomvri, Prilep
Ruen, Kocani
Rudi Cajevec, Banja Luka, electronics
Sever, Subotica, autoloader
Jugoturbina, Karlovac
Radoje Dakic, Podgorica
Industrija lezajeva Kotor, Kotor
In the late 1980s, a project for a replacement tank called the M-91 Vihor (Whirlwind) was started. Unlike the M-84, the Vihor was not a copy of a Soviet tank, but a new design from scratch. However, due to the disintegration of Yugoslavia, the Vihor project was abandoned.
The latest Serbian version of the M-84 is the M-84AS, unveiled in 2004. It features a new fire control system, Kontakt-5 ERA armor, AT-11 Sniper anti-tank missiles, Agava-2 thermal sight, and the Shtora defensive suite. It is very similar to the Russian T-90S, both in appearance and in capability.
Croatia developed a highly modernized prototype version of the M-91 Vihor under the designation M-95 Degman. The M-84D, which is a Degman standard upgrade package for M-84 tanks, will be the series production version to which standard all Croatian M-84s will be brought.
About 150 M-84 tanks have been exported to Kuwait. About $500 million was earned from the sale in 1990-91, representing the Yugoslav military industry's most successful export at the time. The disintegration of Yugoslavia in 1991 prevented all further exports. Kuwait in fact ordered 215 tanks but the whole number never came. ASELSAN of Turkey was chosen by Kuwaity officials to modernize the M-84's
Libya ordered ~200 M-84 MBTs from Yugoslavia, which were manufactured but not delivered due to the outbreak of war in Yugoslavia. During the 1990s, the Pakistan Army was interested in buying a number of M-84 main battle tanks from Yugoslavia. One tank was sent to Pakistan for testing and Pakistani commanders seemed satisfied with the tank, but the deal was never made because of the situation in Yugoslavia during that period.
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