According to NRC on September 3, 2024, in a new Defense Memorandum scheduled for presentation this Thursday, the Dutch government outlines plans to establish a new Dutch tank battalion consisting of nearly fifty Leopard 2A8 tanks, with estimated annual costs ranging between 260 million and 315 million euros. This plan represents a shift in the defense strategy of the Netherlands, as the Dutch Army is set to acquire its own battle tanks once again.
The Leopard 2A8 is the latest variant in the Leopard 2 series of main battle tanks, developed by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and Rheinmetall.
The Defense Memorandum will be presented by Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans and State Secretary Gijs Tuinman. Under the coalition agreement, the government has committed to meeting the NATO standard for defense spending, set at 2 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). To achieve this, the Defense Budget, currently at 21.4 billion euros or 1.95 percent of GDP, will be structurally increased by 2.4 billion euros. This additional funding will provide for several critical allocations, including the establishment of a new tank battalion, which had previously been discontinued due to budget constraints.