The Swiss Government is to sell 42 retired Leopard 2 battle tanks (Pz 87 Leo) to Rheinmetall Landsysteme as part of the reduction policy employed by the Swiss Armed Forces.

The government is also set to decommission, mothball and sell various weapon systems including surplus Leopard 2 battle tanks, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Equipment such as armament, radio and inter-phone systems from the tanks will be dismantled before delivery, and will be used as spare parts for similar weapons systems currently in service.

The company will reassemble the tanks as chassis for support vehicles and the first delivery of battle tanks will be made later this year.

The Swiss Army deployed about 380 units of the Pz 87 Leo between 1987 and 1993.