"Cabinet has been discussing the tank issue and we'll have an announcement on that shortly"
The news is starting to filter out. Murray Brewster reports RUMINT that has a strong whiff of reality about it, at least to this observer:
Brewster makes a rather curious statement about additional replacements, though:
New to whom? And if we're leasing Leopard 2A6's from the Germans, what does that say about the prospects of a long-term replacement for our Leo 1's?
A federal cabinet committee has given the green light to the lease of 20 state-of-the-art tanks to replace aging armoured vehicles in Afghanistan, The Canadian Press has learned.
The cabinet priorities and planning committee approved the lease of the German-built Leopard A6M tanks last week, said a Defence Department source, who asked not to be named.
The recommendation, which is unlikely to be overturned, is now on Prime Minister Stephen Harper's desk for final approval.
Brewster makes a rather curious statement about additional replacements, though:
Reports last winter suggested that in addition to a lease, the army wanted to purchase 80 new Leopards, but the source said that number is likely to be scaled back.
New to whom? And if we're leasing Leopard 2A6's from the Germans, what does that say about the prospects of a long-term replacement for our Leo 1's?
posted by Babbling Brooks at 5:43 p.m.
3 Comments:
its a start . . 20 x 2 A6m is a foot in the door.
Commonality says they get more.
CTV is reporting it . . on MDL today
Commonality says they get more.
That's what the smart money says.
Leasing 20 Leo 2's to alleviate problems with our 17 Leo 1's in theatre isn't a long-terms replacement strategy. But I think it hints at what our long-term plans might be: to replace Leos with Leos. Watch for more news - as early as tomorrow.
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