Bern approves the Leopard tanks sale with a neutrality safeguard
According to Swiss and German media, the government in Bern has agreed to the sale of Leopard 1A5 tanks owned by the company RUAG, which have been stored for years in a warehouse in Italy. However, it was stipulated that the buyer would not be allowed to transfer them to Ukraine.
The potential transfer of these machines to Ukraine had been a topic of public discussion as early as 2023. The Swiss company planned to sell them to Germany, from where, after refurbishment, they could end up in the hands of Ukrainian soldiers. The government in Bern did not allow this, citing Switzerland's neutrality.
Nearly a hundred Leopard 1A5s for sale
At the beginning of May this year, reports emerged that RUAG made another attempt to sell 96 Leopard 1A5 tanks. This time it was more successful. The website of the "Blick" newspaper reported on Wednesday, 28th May, that the Federal Council had already given the green light for the sale of 71 out of the 96 tanks. As for the remaining 25 machines, legal disputes are ongoing. RUAG needs to prove that it is the sole owner. If it succeeds, they will also be available for sale.
RUAG stated that there are also plans to include an option to purchase the 25 machines, which could be activated once the legal situation is clarified.
Importantly, it was explicitly stated this time that the tanks cannot be transferred to Ukraine. The restriction was included in the agreement (with the German company Rheinmetall), which thus meets Switzerland's legal requirements.
According to the Blick newspaper's website, following the Federal Council's decision in June 2023 to block their sale to Germany due to the potential transfer to Ukraine, an alternative arrangement was reached. This time, the deal can proceed because the contract explicitly excludes any clause allowing transfer to Ukraine, ensuring full compliance with Switzerland's arms export laws.
RUAG has Leopard 1A5 tanks that once belonged to the Italian army. All are stored in that country, in a warehouse located on land owned by RUAG. Their technical condition is questionable since the equipment has been stationed outdoors all the time, only covered by tarps.
The war in Ukraine has shown that a functional Leopard 1A5 can be useful in contemporary armed conflict. It is a tank from the 1990s, equipped with a 105mm calibre gun and an EMES 18 fire control system. The latter element gives it an advantage over Soviet-era competitors without thermal imaging. Ukrainian soldiers have frequently highlighted this. They also praise the Leopard 1A5 for its mobility and agility, as well as its easy operation.
