Sweden's army will buy tanks from German-French defence equipment maker KNDS for 22 billion Swedish crowns ($1.97 billion), Defence Minister Pål Jonson told Sweden's public broadcaster SVT on Thursday, APA reports.
The order, which was placed in late December, includes 44 Leopard 2 A8 tanks and upgrades of 66 existing tanks, SVT reported.
"This is an absolutely necessary investment," Jonson said, adding the tanks would help Sweden meet its goal of doubling the size of its army.