Reference News Network, July 8 report. According to the German newspaper "Die Welt" website, July 7 report, sources said that Germany is considering purchasing up to 2,500 armored vehicles and 1,000 main battle tanks to form more German Federal Defense Force brigades to reinforce NATO forces.

NATO has requested Germany to establish up to seven additional combat brigades for it over the next 10 years. Sources said that if the procurement of these main battle tanks and armored vehicles is approved, they will be used to equip these newly established units. This reflects the growing concern among NATO allies about Moscow's increasingly aggressive attitude since the outbreak of the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

The report said that German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and the military leadership of the German Federal Armed Forces are currently jointly reviewing the procurement plan. It is reported that the procurement project includes up to 1,000 "Leopard"-2 main battle tanks and 2,500 "Boxer" wheeled armored vehicles. The former will be jointly produced by KNDS Defense Systems Company and Rheinmetall Company, while the latter will be produced by a joint venture of the two companies, EtaCo Company.

Internal sources revealed that the total order value may reach as high as 2.5 billion euros. However, since the procurement negotiations are still ongoing, the final total may be lower. The German government estimates that a decision will be made in a few months. A source said that the Bundestag may approve the procurement plan this year.

According to the report, Germany has committed to forming several combat brigades to meet the new military objectives decided by NATO at the June summit in the Netherlands. In addition to the above-mentioned main battle tanks and armored vehicles, the German government was approved by parliament earlier this year to purchase more than 1,000 modular armored vehicles from Finland's Patria Defense Group. It is reported that these armored vehicles will be used to replace the aging "Fuchs" armored vehicles of the German Federal Armed Forces. (Translation: Wang Qing)

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