Rheinmetall Landsysteme formally applies for export of 100 Marders to Ukraine. Scholz now has to decide (German article, translation in the comments)

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  1. >For the first time since the start of the war, industry is requesting the delivery of 100 “rapidly available” Marder combat vehicles. The request for approval now lies with the Federal Security Council, which the chancellor de facto heads.
    Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) must decide in the next few days whether to approve the direct delivery of tanks from Germany to Ukraine after all. For the first time since the war began, a formal request for approval of such an arms export has been submitted to the German government. According to information from this newspaper, it was received by the Economics Ministry on Thursday and was immediately forwarded by it to the Federal Security Council.

    >The secret advisory body includes the chancellor and nine ministers who are involved in foreign and security policy in a broader sense. It is coordinated by the Chancellor’s Office. So far, Scholz has shied away from direct delivery of heavy weapons.

    >At issue are 100 “stored and quickly available” Marder infantry fighting vehicles. Rheinmetall Landsysteme, a subsidiary of the Rheinmetall armaments group, would like to sell these to Ukraine “in the short term”. A first tranche could already be delivered “within a few weeks,” according to the company’s offer, which is available to this newspaper. The deal has been prepared, all that is missing is the approval of the German government.

    >Marder delivery planned in three tranches
    The receipt of the request for approval was confirmed by government circles upon request. A spokeswoman for the ministry explained: “For reasons of confidentiality, we do not comment on any pending proceedings. The basic principle in Ukraine cases is that we act swiftly and constructively here: as soon as concrete requests are received, we initiate all necessary steps and, if necessary, coordinate them within the departmental circle in the bodies responsible for the decision.”

    >In fact, the documents were forwarded on the same day. In recent weeks, it was noticed several times that the Ministry of Economics, led by Robert Habeck (Greens), processed applications for weapons to Ukraine much faster than the Ministry of Defense, led by Christine Lambrecht (SPD).

    >”Our partners in Eastern Europe are demanding the delivery of heavy weapons and the chancellor is putting on the brakes,” said CDU politician Philipp Amthor. “We hear lack of clarity as to what will be delivered at all, Olaf Scholz and Defense Minister Lambrecht leave us in the dark on this.” He demands, “The Chancellor must move.”

    >The Ukrainian government had already received a written offer to this effect on April 14. In it, Rheinmetall offers not only the tanks, but also the matching ammunition as well as the maintenance and training of the soldiers, worth a total of 153 million euros. In the past, representatives of the German government had argued that it would not be advisable to supply German tanks because the Ukrainian soldiers were not trained in them and were overburdened with maintenance.

    >Since the Marder still have to be repaired, the delivery is planned in three tranches: 20 combat vehicles are to be handed over after just six weeks, 25 more after six months and 55 after twelve months. In addition, 1.5 million rounds of ammunition worth 42.6 million euros will be delivered. The training of the Ukrainian crews for the tanks is to be carried out by Rheinmetall personnel. The company is offering several courses in Germany for this purpose. For maintenance, a “logistics package” is proposed that includes “special tools” and spare parts as well as a “temporary service base near the border (e.g. in Poland or Slovakia)”. Rheinmetall “customer service technicians” are to work there.

    >The decision on the authorization forces Scholz to show his colors. So far, the chancellor has refused to help Ukraine directly with heavy weapons, despite growing criticism even from his traffic light coalition. Since Tuesday of this week, the German government at least wants to allow a ring swap. Accordingly, former Warsaw Pact states that still have Soviet military equipment may pass it on to Ukraine. In return, they will be equipped with Western equipment, also from Germany.

    >Specifically, 35 Marder and 35 Fuchs tanks from Bundeswehr stocks are to be handed over to Slovenia, which in turn will provide Ukraine with old Soviet-made tanks. A few days ago, however, the German government claimed that it could not spare any more Bundeswehr equipment without being unable to meet its NATO obligations. The contradiction was explained as follows: the Marder and Fuchs that are to go to Slovenia only “formally” belong to the Bundeswehr, but have long since been decommissioned and are being stored by industry.

    (translated with deepl)

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