United to win: German arms producer Rheinmetall to modernize and send 30 more Leopard 1 tanks to Ukraine
Photo: Thomas Imo/photothek/picture alliance
The largest German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall purchased 50 Leopard 1 tanks from the Belgian company OIP Land Systems to modernize them and transfer some of them to the Ukrainian armed forces.
The German publication Handelsblatt reports, citing sources.
What is the problem?
After several months of discussions, Germany finally agreed to deliver 18 Leopard 2 tanks to the Ukrainian army at the end of January of this year. It also allowed other countries to re-export them to Ukraine. Later, at the end of March, Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz confirmed that all the promised tanks had already been delivered to Ukraine.
Berlin also approved the export of 178 older Leopard models to Ukraine. At the beginning of February, Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands announced that they would provide the Armed Forces of Ukraine with at least 100 repaired Leopard 1 tanks.
Canada, Poland, and Spain also transferred a certain amount of this equipment. However, this was not enough for Ukraine's Defense Forces for a successful counteroffensive and the liberation of the lands occupied by Russia.
What is the solution?
The German defense company Rheinmetall is preparing another delivery of battle tanks to Ukraine, having purchased Leopard 1 from the Belgian company OIP Land Systems. This combat vehicle is the predecessor of the Leopard 2, which the Bundeswehr currently uses.
How does it work?
According to Handelsblatt, the tanks will be refurbished at the company's German plants in Dusseldorf. Then they plan to transfer them to Ukraine for further use. It is reported that about 30 of these 50 Leopards will be delivered to Ukraine.
"The tanks must be converted at the company's enterprises in Dusseldorf and sent to Ukraine in the future. These will be three dozen Leopard 1 tanks out of half a hundred Belgian-made Leopard 1 tanks, as Switzerland has not yet granted an export permit," the report said, adding that they will be equipped with new weapons systems.
Following the 11th meeting of the Ramstein format, the participating countries of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group provided the Armed Forces of Ukraine with more than 230 tanks and thousands of other military equipment and ammunition.
"In just a few months, this Contact Group has delivered more than 230 tanks, more than 1,550 armored vehicles, as well as other equipment and ammunition to support more than nine new armored brigades," the Pentagon chief said.
Rubryka reported that the Rheinmetall would produce German tanks and infantry fighting vehicles at a joint venture with Ukraine's arms producer Ukroboronprom. This armaments company also plans to open tank repair centers in Ukraine in the fall, for which it is already training specialists.
Berlin also confirmed that they had agreed with their Polish colleagues about repairing German-made tanks that were damaged at the front in Ukraine.
