According to these considerations, the Bundeswehr would not have to give up any units, which would preserve their defenses.
(Photo: AFP/Getty Images)
Berlin The German armaments industry is preparing to deliver main battle tanks to Ukraine. In addition to the Leopard 2, the Leopard 1 and the British model Challenger 1 could also be refurbished and handed over to Kyiv, the Handelsblatt learned from industry circles. According to these considerations, the Bundeswehr would not have to give up any units, which would preserve their defenses.
Many observers had not expected the Challenger 1. The Rheinmetall group brings him into play, which according to the circles would buy and upgrade a high double-digit number of British tanks from Oman. The vehicles could be handed over to Ukraine later this year, a person familiar with the proceedings said.
Ukraine is already receiving British Main Battle Tanks, albeit of the Challenger 2 type. This is more modern than its predecessor, although both models would have the same main gun, which would make ammunition supply and logistics easier.
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has so far spoken out against supporting Ukraine with German battle tanks because he fears an escalation of the war.
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Russia could therefore classify Germany as a war party. Scholz therefore said in Davos on Wednesday that Germany would only deliver if the USA gave up M1 Abrams tanks.
>> Read here: Scholz can no longer prevent the delivery of Leopard 2 tanks – a comment
Since Great Britain and Poland and Finland also want to hand over Leopard main battle tanks from their stocks to the Ukrainian armed forces, the pressure on Scholz is increasing. The M1 Abrams, however, is not very suitable because it has a complicated propulsion system that consumes twice as much as the Leopard.
Decision possibly on Friday
According to media reports, the US government is demanding that Germany at least release these exports. As the manufacturing country, the Federal Republic can prohibit the transfer of Leopard tanks.
How to proceed could be decided on Friday: Then the defense ministers of the Ukraine-supporting states will meet to discuss how to proceed. The new Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) will be there for the first time.
In addition to the Challenger, Rheinmetall is also offering to supply the Leopard 1 and Leopard 2, the Bundeswehr’s standard weapon. From the older Leopard 1 model, 20 main battle tanks could be reequipped and sold this year and another 80 within 20 months.
The Flensburg armaments company FFG also has Leopard 1 in stock and could retrofit them for the Ukraine. It is unclear to what extent Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) – the main manufacturer of the Leopard 2 – could participate in a possible delivery. The company has so far remained silent on the matter.
With the Leopard 1 and the Challenger, the combat effectiveness of the Ukraine would be significantly increased, since these are superior to the Russian main battle tanks. In addition, another 100 Leopard 2 battle tanks could be added if the federal government gives its approval. To this end, several countries, including Finland, Spain and Poland, want to hand over battle tanks from their own stocks to Ukraine.
>> Read here: All current developments in the Ukraine war in the Newsblog
Since the Bundeswehr cannot deliver Leopard tanks, vehicles intended for the Czech Republic and Slovakia could be diverted to Ukraine. The two countries would then receive their tanks afterwards, it said. This would give Germany a reserve of 14 Leopard 2s that it could give to Ukraine.
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