Officials of the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany, together with representatives from Germany’s Rheinmetall, have recently signed an agreement to effect the transfer of 14 Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks (MBTs) to Ukraine, Rheinmetall announced on 27 June 2023.
The Dutch and Danish governments first announced their intention to jointly acquire Leopard 2A4 MBTs for donation to Ukraine in April 2023. The Dutch government then contracted Rheinmetall to supply 14 Leopard 2A4s, worth a figure “in the lower three-digit-million-euro range”, according to Rheinmetall. The Dutch and Danish government are jointly financing the order as part of the international tank coalition to provide effective support for Ukraine.
The first MBT is scheduled for delivery in January 2024, with the last due to ship over the course of the year. The tanks are upgraded Leopard 2A4s acquired by Rheinmetall from the inventories of user nations.
“The transaction underscores Rheinmetall’s role as an important supplier of materiel to the Ukrainian armed forces,” the company stated in a press release. It is just the latest in a series of actions taken by the … company in support of Ukraine’s defensive war effort. In the meantime, Rheinmetall is the embattled country’s sole source of large-volume shipments of new medium- and large-calibre ammunition, including 20 mm rounds for the Marder IFVs’ automatic cannon and 105 mm and 120 mm tank ammunition for the main armament of the Ukrainian Army’s Leopard 1 and Leopard 2 MBTs. A first lot of 35 mm ammunition for donated Gepard anti-aircraft tanks will soon be ready for shipment as well.”
Rheinmetall has been instrumental in supplying the Ukrainian military with substantial numbers of armoured fighting vehicles, either through multilateral Ringtausch exchange programmes with partner nations or via direct deliveries at the behest of the German government. In March 2023, for example, Rheinmetall shipped 20 Marder infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) to Ukraine, while a second lot of 20 of these IFVs is due to ship this summer.
“By the end of 2023 Rheinmetall will also be supplying Ukraine with 26 brand-new military trucks and two state-of-the-art air defence systems,” the company added. “The support effort also encompasses SurveilSPIRE mobile reconnaissance systems with day- and night-capable cameras and autopiloted mini-drones. The group is also furnishing Ukraine with a field hospital system consisting of containers and tents as well as a container-based mobile surgical station for initial treatment of trauma cases, both of which will be a vital source of support for the Ukrainian military in the coming months.”
Peter Felstead
