Croatia has signed a €1.48 billion deal to purchase 44 Leopard 2A8 tanks from Germany, marking a significant shift from Yugoslav-era military equipment. The agreement, signed by Defence Minister Ivan Anušić in Berlin, is part of a broader €2 billion modernization program. The tanks will replace outdated M-84 models, with funding partly from the EU. Deliveries are expected between 2028 and 2030, and Croatia aims to increase its defense spending significantly by 2027.