The Czech government has approved a deal to purchase 44 Leopard 2A8 battle tanks from Germany, valued at €1.4 billion, as part of its efforts to modernize the army. The decision follows the Ministry of Defense’s approval of the deal last month.

Czech Defense Minister Jana Černochová confirmed on Wednesday that the tanks, to be delivered between 2028 and 2031, will cost 34 billion Czech koruna (€1.4 billion), with an option to buy an additional 14 tanks later.

Černochová said after the government meeting: “The tanks are a fundamental part of the heavy brigade.”

Alongside this deal, Prague is negotiating to acquire 19 specialized versions of Leopard 2A8 tanks under a separate agreement after approving last year the purchase of up to 77 tanks from Germany and other countries.

The Czech army also announced it will buy 18 light armored vehicles of the Supacat Extenda model from LPP company for €37.6 million.

These contracts are part of a broader move to increase military spending, as Prague has previously supported plans to buy 24 American F-35 fighter jets and 246 CV90 armored combat vehicles.

The Czech Republic seeks to compensate for shortages in its arsenal after supplying weapons and equipment to Ukraine following the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022.

Prague announced earlier this year it will raise its defense spending to 3% of GDP by 2030.

This move aligns with the trends of many NATO member states that have pledged to increase their military investments amid pressure from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who accused European countries of not contributing enough to the collective security of the alliance.