The Czech government on Wednesday gave its approval for army plans to buy Leopard 2A8 tanks from Germany as part of its modernization efforts, Defense Minister Jana Cernochova said.

Axar.az informs, citing Reuters, the NATO member Czech Republic will agree a framework agreement with the German defense ministry for the purchases, Cernochova said. A binding order could be sent in the coming weeks, she said.

In the first phase, the country will buy 44 tanks for 34.2 billion crowns ($1.63 billion), to be delivered in 2028-2031, with an option to buy 14 more.

It is also in talks to buy up to 19 specialized version 2A8s under a separate deal to have up to 77 of the 2A8 tanks overall.

“Tanks are an essential part of a heavy brigade,” Cernochova said after a government meeting, adding that the country was meeting NATO commitments with the purchases.