Thanks Waylander, you raise some good points. From Germany point of view, there aren't many advantages to the sale. They don't get much work out of it and it will likely create some political fallout. I thought that Germany had closed new Leopard production line and all sales have been from used German Army stocks. Just a thought, maybe Saudis have already asked for German Leopards but have been told:" no way! " but wink,wink, you can buy from Spain with components made in Germany. This rejoins what you were saying.As for Leopards being purchased by SA, I really doubt it.
Such a deal would need approval by the German government. And as SA is located in a crisis region such an approval would be controversial within Germany.
Why should our gov go through this when it is Santa Barbara/Spain which gains the most of such a deal.
If on the other hand KMW would get the contract (maybe with a mix of german build Leos and kits for final assembly shipped to SA) such a deal is much more possible. KMW defenitely hasn't lost the production capabilities for new Leos and is still offering it to interested customers. Strv122s as well as the first batches of the Leopards IIE and HEL were build by KMW.
If they do go through with it, it is quite a massive sale. I mean, Egypt has M1s, Israel has Merkavas, same generation/capability tank but I don't think war is coming with either country. Jordan has some Challengers, Iraq will get some M1s but again war? Saudi Arabia has quite a massive tank force but it is a bit of overkill, do they still have AMX/ M60s in service? Are the Leopards replacing those if SA still have them around? I mean do you need 250 Leopards to face Yemen? Do they have tanks in Yemen, maybe some T55s?