German concern Rheinmetall can deliver 139 Leopard tanks to Ukraine if government permits

If the German government permits the export of Leopard tanks type 1 and 2 to Ukraine, the German concern Rheinmetall can supply a total of 139 of them.

The representative of the concern stated this in an interview with RND.

"… there are 29 more Leopard 2A4 tanks that we are preparing for circular-exchange projects, which will be ready by April-May 2023," he said.

Also, the concern can provide 88 Leopard 1 machines.

"We still have 22 Leopard 2A4 machines that we could prepare for use and deliver to Ukraine," he said.

According to the spokesman, the repair of these machines will take almost a year. Delivery would be possible in late 2023 — early 2024.

"The situation is very unstable due to the security policy, different forms of direct or indirect deliveries, and changing order priorities. Therefore, it is difficult, for example, to name specific delivery dates," the spokesman emphasized.

Countries that own Leopard tanks and want to transfer them must apply to the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control.

Decisions are made by the Federal Security Council, which includes several federal ministers. Council meetings are held in secret.

Earlier, the head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, said that Germany would not block the export of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine by third countries.

In addition, according to German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, the German government will not object if Poland hands over Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine.

Reference

Germany is ready to accelerate the advance of Leopard 2 tanks if there are appropriate agreements with the allies. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius promised to review the country's tank stocks.

In the US, they believe that the supply of Abrams tanks to Ukraine does not make sense so far due to the fact that such equipment is difficult to maintain.