The Czech government today approved a plan to buy 246 armored fighting vehicles for the country’s army, Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced.

The CV90 tanks are manufactured by a Swedish unit of the British company BAE Systems and will cost the Czech state 59.7 billion crowns (about 2.52 billion euros).

They will be delivered between 2026-30, Defense Minister Yana Chernochova said.

The purchase was announced as the NATO member country tries to increase its defense spending to 2% of its GDP starting next year, the Alliance’s target.

These vehicles will be used to equip a brigade that the Czechs have promised to build by 2026, as part of their commitments to NATO.

Prague will also start talks with the German government on the joint purchase of Leopard 2A8 tanks from Germany’s KMW company, Chernochova said. According to the Ministry of Defense announcement, the Czech Republic can buy about 70 such tanks, with delivery until 2030. By placing the order jointly with Germany and possibly other countries, the price of the tanks may be reduced and deliveries speeded up. , the ministry added.