Chile has concluded a deal to buy 118 Leopard 2 tanks from Germany to replace 131 Leopard 1 tanks that it will retire in the coming months, the defense ministry said in a statement on March 24.

Chile’s acquisitions of military hardware in recent years have stirred criticism among neighbors, especially Peru, who say Chile is upsetting the equilibrium of military power in the Southern Cone region of South America.

Chile has repeatedly said it is just replacing obsolete equipment and has no interest in sparking an arms race with neighbors.

Chile’s recent deals to acquire military hardware include used F-16 aircraft and frigates from European countries, and Harpoon missiles from the United States.

The ministry did not say how much it paid for the tanks.

Ten percent of revenue from Chile’s government copper miner Codelco, the biggest copper producer in the world, is designated for government military purchases.

Germany has been steadily selling off surplus Leopard 2 tanks as part of a reduction of its heavy armor. In the past three years it has sold tanks to Finland, Poland, Greece and Turkey.

Leopard tanks are manufactured by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and are often refitted by that company before delivery.

Reuters
27.03.2006