Croatia Sends Dozens of Tanks and IFVs to Germany—And Ukraine Is About to Get Them

Croatia has already moved its M-84 main battle tanks and M-80 infantry fighting vehicles to Germany, where they are set to be delivered directly to Ukraine, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković confirmed on December 10, 2025.

Speaking at a press conference formalizing Croatia’s Leopard 2A8 procurement agreement with Germany, Plenković said the armored vehicles are no longer subject to administrative procedures in Croatia and are physically located in Germany, enabling a faster handover to Ukrainian forces.

The announcement came as Zagreb and Berlin finalized a deal under which Croatia will acquire 50 Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks, with an estimated total value of about €1.5 billion.

Croatian officials contrasted the outgoing M-84 fleet with the Leopard 2A8, describing the German tank as fundamentally different in terms of protection philosophy, digital integration, and NATO-standard systems, rather than an incremental upgrade of Yugoslav-era designs.

The transfer reflects a longer-term process shaped by Croatia’s dual goals of supporting Ukraine’s defense and modernizing its own armed forces.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Zagreb has reviewed which legacy systems could be transferred without undermining national defense, while accelerating its shift away from equipment derived from former Yugoslav and Soviet designs, Army Recognition notes.

Read more

Category

Latest news

M-84A4 Snajper: Croatia’s Upgraded Tanks Spotted in Action With Ukraine’s 141st Brigade

Sep 12, 2025 14:54

By late 2024, Croatia and Germany aligned these objectives through an arrangement in which Croatia would release M-84 tanks and M-80 infantry fighting vehicles for Ukraine, while Germany would provide financial and industrial backing linked to Croatia’s entry into the Leopard 2 user community.

As part of this pathway, Croatia also received Leopard 2A4 tanks earlier, helping bridge the transition period. The approach effectively allowed Zagreb to convert aging armored assets into both immediate military aid and long-term modernization capital.

Army Recognition wrote that the M-84 main battle tank plays a central role in this exchange. Croatia inherited its M-84 fleet after the breakup of Yugoslavia; the tank itself is a licensed development of the Soviet T-72M1, adapted for Yugoslav industry. Rather than replacing the fleet outright, Croatia focused for years on maintaining and upgrading the tanks due to budget constraints and existing domestic overhaul capacity.

According to previously disclosed figures, the transfer package includes 30 M-84 tanks and 30 M-80 infantry fighting vehicles, along with spare parts and ammunition, with a total estimated value of €144.8 million.

According to Army Recognition, Croatia’s M-84s were modernized to the M-84A4 “Snajper” standard, a process completed fleet-wide by 2008 and supplemented by additional repairs and communications upgrades by 2023. The upgrade improved fire control and situational awareness, integrating the DBR-84 ballistic computer with the SCS-84 day-night infrared gunner’s sight and enhancing turret and gun drive systems.

Mobility is provided by a 1,000-horsepower V46-TK diesel engine, comparable to other T-72-derived platforms. However, the modernization did not significantly alter the tank’s protection, which remains broadly in line with T-72M1 and T-72A armor standards.

The M-80 infantry fighting vehicle represents the second pillar of the transfer. Often mistaken for a Soviet BMP, the M-80 is an original Yugoslav design developed in the 1970s and introduced into service in 1979, with around 1,000 units produced before Yugoslavia’s collapse. The amphibious vehicle is powered by a German-licensed Daimler-Benz diesel engine producing roughly 320 horsepower, Army Recognition wrote.

Its primary armament is a 20-mm automatic cannon (HS.804/M-55) with a high rate of fire, supplemented by secondary weapons depending on configuration. While lightly protected by modern standards, the M-80’s relevance for Ukraine lies in its compatibility with similar vehicles already in service, easing training and logistical integration.

The armored vehicle transfer fits into a broader pattern of Croatian military assistance to Ukraine that has expanded steadily since 2022.

By November 2025, Croatia had announced 15 aid packages, 14 of which were described as fully delivered and collectively valued at more than $212 million. These packages have included Mi-8 helicopters, An-32B transport aircraft, artillery systems, multiple rocket launchers, anti-tank weapons, MANPADS, small arms, ammunition, and protective equipment.

In October 2025, Croatia also signed a letter of intent with Ukraine aimed at expanding joint arms production.

Earlier, Ukrainian forces began operating the rare Croatian-made M93A3 Haron multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), marking the first confirmed appearance of the platform in Ukraine’s arsenal.

Support our frontline reporters

We report from the front lines to show the reality of war. Your support helps us stay there and tell the stories that matter.

DONATE NOW