*Germany apparently wants to equip Ukraine with enough tanks for large formations. The focus is on Leopard 1 main battle tanks and Marder infantry fighting vehicles.*
Kyiv – Germany is in second place when it comes to spending on arms deliveries to Ukraine – far behind the USA. But well ahead of the other NATO members.
According to ZDF’s “heute journal”, Germany has so far handed over 17.13 billion euros worth of weapons to the Ukrainian armed forces (as of January 31). The Americans have provided weapons and other material worth 43.86 billion euros. The UK ranks third with an investment of 6.57 billion euros.
Italy (0.69 billion euros) and France (0.54 billion euros) are far behind Germany in terms of support for Ukraine, which is why German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) recently even publicly criticized his partners from NATO and the European Union (EU). Moreover, while military aid from the United States is currently being blocked by Donald Trump’s Republicans in Congress, Germany is working on the next huge arms package for Ukraine, whose army is under severe pressure on several fronts.
As can be seen from the list of military support services provided by the traffic light federal government (as of February 4), work is currently underway on the delivery of 105 Leopard 1A5 main battle tanks and 30 Marder infantry fighting vehicles. Germany has already provided the Ukrainians with 30 Leopard 1, 90 Marder and 18 Leopard 2A6 tanks since spring 2023. However, most of the latter are currently in a repair workshop in Lithuania. The promised Leopard 1 tanks from old industrial and Bundeswehr stocks, on the other hand, are being overhauled by the arms company Rheinmetall in Germany.
According to the German government’s website, Germany is also planning to deliver 15 more Gepard anti-aircraft gun tanks (52 to date) and nine IRIS-T SLM air defense systems to protect Ukrainian cities from Russian missile attacks. Meanwhile, the tank deliveries point to a possible new strategy on the battlefield, after the American news magazine Forbes had already reported that the Ukrainians would set up a closed tank brigade consisting of German “Leos” 1 and Marders.
For comparison: A Bundeswehr tank brigade usually consists of two main battle tank battalions and two battalions with infantry fighting vehicles for the infantry (foot soldiers). According to the ZDF, a Bundeswehr battalion usually has 46 tanks. That would make around 90 main battle tanks and 90 infantry fighting vehicles in a brigade.
135 Leopard 1 tanks and a total of 120 Marder tanks would make a brigade and an additional battalion for the Ukrainians by these standards. In June 2023, the Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiew, had already reported on the delivery commitment for 110 “Leos” 1. The current list and the other weapons deliveries indicate that the Ukrainian armed forces will probably want to act against the invasion by Russia with closed large formations in the future.
During the ultimately failed offensive in the summer, the Ukrainian soldiers attacked in small units consisting of a few tanks, but got stuck in Russian minefields several times. Or their tanks were shot down from the air by the Russians using Kamov Ka-52 Alligator helicopters. Another note: The latest military aid from January 31st included three Wisent mine-clearing tanks and a Beaver bridge-laying tank. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense thanked via exTwitter for the “unwavering support”.
The Ukrainian army has thus received a total of 19 Wisent armored engineer vehicles and 15 Biber vehicles. These are both support tanks designed to clear mines (Wisent) or lay bridges over narrow waters (Biber). They are also set to become part of a large combined force. This could become a real liberation strike on at least one section of the front. This means that the Ukrainian troops could go on the offensive again in some places, after having been almost exclusively occupied with holding their positions in the Ukrainian war between Kharkiv, Zaporizhia and Kherson for weeks.
If only more countries could deliver on the same level as Germany, The Scandinavian countries and the Baltics…
Especially France is a major disappointment from a European perspective.
It will be extremely useful, but didn’t the UKs MoD release an intelligence briefing stating that the Russian industry produces 100 heavy tanks per month ? I don’t know if these also include retrofitted older fighting vehicles but still, Germany needs to ratchet up its production in order to match what Russia is able to churn out.
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*Translation*
—
*Germany apparently wants to equip Ukraine with enough tanks for large formations. The focus is on Leopard 1 main battle tanks and Marder infantry fighting vehicles.*
Kyiv – Germany is in second place when it comes to spending on arms deliveries to Ukraine – far behind the USA. But well ahead of the other NATO members.
According to ZDF’s “heute journal”, Germany has so far handed over 17.13 billion euros worth of weapons to the Ukrainian armed forces (as of January 31). The Americans have provided weapons and other material worth 43.86 billion euros. The UK ranks third with an investment of 6.57 billion euros.
Italy (0.69 billion euros) and France (0.54 billion euros) are far behind Germany in terms of support for Ukraine, which is why German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) recently even publicly criticized his partners from NATO and the European Union (EU). Moreover, while military aid from the United States is currently being blocked by Donald Trump’s Republicans in Congress, Germany is working on the next huge arms package for Ukraine, whose army is under severe pressure on several fronts.
As can be seen from the list of military support services provided by the traffic light federal government (as of February 4), work is currently underway on the delivery of 105 Leopard 1A5 main battle tanks and 30 Marder infantry fighting vehicles. Germany has already provided the Ukrainians with 30 Leopard 1, 90 Marder and 18 Leopard 2A6 tanks since spring 2023. However, most of the latter are currently in a repair workshop in Lithuania. The promised Leopard 1 tanks from old industrial and Bundeswehr stocks, on the other hand, are being overhauled by the arms company Rheinmetall in Germany.
According to the German government’s website, Germany is also planning to deliver 15 more Gepard anti-aircraft gun tanks (52 to date) and nine IRIS-T SLM air defense systems to protect Ukrainian cities from Russian missile attacks. Meanwhile, the tank deliveries point to a possible new strategy on the battlefield, after the American news magazine Forbes had already reported that the Ukrainians would set up a closed tank brigade consisting of German “Leos” 1 and Marders.
For comparison: A Bundeswehr tank brigade usually consists of two main battle tank battalions and two battalions with infantry fighting vehicles for the infantry (foot soldiers). According to the ZDF, a Bundeswehr battalion usually has 46 tanks. That would make around 90 main battle tanks and 90 infantry fighting vehicles in a brigade.
135 Leopard 1 tanks and a total of 120 Marder tanks would make a brigade and an additional battalion for the Ukrainians by these standards. In June 2023, the Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiew, had already reported on the delivery commitment for 110 “Leos” 1. The current list and the other weapons deliveries indicate that the Ukrainian armed forces will probably want to act against the invasion by Russia with closed large formations in the future.
During the ultimately failed offensive in the summer, the Ukrainian soldiers attacked in small units consisting of a few tanks, but got stuck in Russian minefields several times. Or their tanks were shot down from the air by the Russians using Kamov Ka-52 Alligator helicopters. Another note: The latest military aid from January 31st included three Wisent mine-clearing tanks and a Beaver bridge-laying tank. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense thanked via exTwitter for the “unwavering support”.
The Ukrainian army has thus received a total of 19 Wisent armored engineer vehicles and 15 Biber vehicles. These are both support tanks designed to clear mines (Wisent) or lay bridges over narrow waters (Biber). They are also set to become part of a large combined force. This could become a real liberation strike on at least one section of the front. This means that the Ukrainian troops could go on the offensive again in some places, after having been almost exclusively occupied with holding their positions in the Ukrainian war between Kharkiv, Zaporizhia and Kherson for weeks.
If only more countries could deliver on the same level as Germany, The Scandinavian countries and the Baltics…
Especially France is a major disappointment from a European perspective.
It will be extremely useful, but didn’t the UKs MoD release an intelligence briefing stating that the Russian industry produces 100 heavy tanks per month ? I don’t know if these also include retrofitted older fighting vehicles but still, Germany needs to ratchet up its production in order to match what Russia is able to churn out.
But still no Taurus missiles?
Germany so late to the party. So late.
hmm lets hope they deliver
Well done.
Vielen Dank, Deutchland!