40 vehicles are to be delivered to Ukraine by the end of March.
(Photo: imago/Hans Scherhaufer)
Berlin, Athens One day after the German government announced its intention to supply the Ukraine with Marder armored personnel carriers, further details became known. Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said in Berlin that the aim was to equip a battalion, for which around 40 vehicles would be needed. These should be available by the end of March.
This indicated that at least some of the weapon systems were initially likely to come from the Bundeswehr’s inventory. The industry has dozens of decommissioned martens in stock. However, it is rather doubtful that the number of units mentioned will be ready for use by the end of the first quarter at the latest, as promised by the government. The Federal Ministry of Defense wanted to announce details on Friday.
One possibility would be to transfer tanks intended for Greece to Ukraine. As part of a so-called ring exchange, the government in Athens had agreed to provide the Ukrainian army with BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles dating back to the Soviet era. Greece is to receive 40 martens for this, which the Rheinmetall armaments group had initially restored at its own expense.
The first tanks were delivered in October last year, and the ring exchange should be completed by the end of this year. Government spokesman Hebestreit explained that the deal with Athens was firmly agreed: “You don’t get any equipment back from Greece.”
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However, even the Bundeswehr does not have an abundance of martens. This applies all the more because the weapon system, which is around 50 years old, is currently still intended for use as part of the NATO Rapid Reaction Force (VJTF).
>> Also read our comment: Germany and its tanks for the Ukraine – First the Marder, then the Leopard
The fallback option became necessary after a series of breakdowns occurred in the more modern successor model Puma in December. Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) then decided that Germany would initially contest this year’s leadership role within the VJTF with the marten.
Federal government sticks to Patriot stationing in Slovakia and Poland
As government spokesman Hebestreit said, Ukrainian soldiers in Germany are to be trained on the armored personnel carrier for eight weeks. Training on the Patriot air defense system, which the Bundeswehr is making available to Ukraine, also takes place in Germany.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defense said that the surrender of the Patriot battery would mean a “strength” for the Bundeswehr. German Patriot missiles have been stationed in Slovakia since April last year to support the NATO partner in protecting the airspace.
German missiles of this type have been stationed in the country since April 2022.
(Photo: Reuters)
In addition, the German government pledged to deploy three Patriot systems in Poland after a missile from Ukraine landed there, killing two people. Investigators assume that it was a stray Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile. The government wants to stick to the promise to Poland as well as to the Patriot mission in Slovakia, as the ministry spokesman said.
In addition to Germany and the USA, France also wants to deliver tanks to Ukraine – namely AMX-10 RC reconnaissance tanks. Hebestreit expressed the hope that other supporting nations of Ukraine will join the initiative.
>> Read here: Fight, protect, scout – which tank type can do what?
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) discussed the last details of the planned arms deal in a telephone call with US President Joe Biden on Thursday evening. A day earlier, France had made its own planned arms delivery public. Germany and the USA have not followed suit, said Hebestreit. The preparations had been going on for much longer, France was only faster with the announcement.
The delivery of heavy battle tanks such as Leopard or Abrams played no role in the talks between Chancellor Scholz and US President Biden, Hebestreit said. Prominent traffic light representatives such as the Greens MP Anton Hofreiter or the chairwoman of the Defense Committee, Marie-Agnes Strack Zimmermann (FDP), called on the federal government to now also make it possible to use Leopard main battle tanks in Ukraine.
Hebestreit said such demands are not new. However, the government is sticking to its three principles for arms deliveries in the Ukraine war. Ukraine will be supported as far as possible without NATO running the risk of becoming a war party itself. In addition, there will be no German going it alone.
More: Finnish armaments company wants to build Bundeswehr wheeled tanks in Germany.