German company ready to provide Ukraine with more than 100 combat tanks

The German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall can provide Ukraine with over 100 combat tanks, including the Leopard 1, Leopard 2 and Challenger 1, if the German government agrees to it.

Source: German media outlet Handelsblatt, referring to its sources in the industry

Quote: "The German defence industry is preparing to supply Ukraine with main battle tanks.

Leopard 1 and the British model of Challenger 1 tanks, in addition to Leopard 2, can also be repaired and delivered to Kyiv."

Details: It is noted that under such conditions, the Bundeswehr (the Armed Forces of Germany – ed.) would not have to give away their own armament.

In particular, the Rheinmetall company can purchase and modernise a large "double-digit quantity of British tanks" in Oman. There are plans to transfer these tanks to Ukraine by the end of this year.

Ukraine is already getting more modern British Challenger 2 tanks, but both tanks are equipped with the same main weapon, which will make the shell supply and logistics easier.

Rheinmetall also offers to supply Leopard 1 and Leopard 2.

Thus, 20 Leopard 1 main battle tanks can be converted and sold this year, and 80 more will be sold within 20 months.

Meanwhile, the decision about supplying Ukraine with German tanks must be approved by Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor. He stated that he was ready to transfer the Leopard tanks to Ukraine only if the US would provide it with the Abrams battle tanks.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, stated he was awaiting manufacturer state approval regarding supply from European partners. 

This is likely talking about Germany, as a number of European countries, including Poland, Spain and Finland, have expressed their readiness to provide Ukraine with the Leopard tanks but have not yet received permission from the German government.

On 20 January, another meeting of Ukraine’s allies at the Ramstein airbase is planned where principal decisions concerning the supply of new armament to Ukraine may be made, specifically German tanks.

Background:

• One of the German media outlets reported that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz put forward a condition for supplying German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine in a phone conversation with the US President Joe Biden; this condition is that Washington decides to send their Abrams tanks first. 

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