German government permits delivery of 187 Leopard I tanks to Ukraine
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Spiegel magazine reported that 178 Leopard I tanks will be sent to Ukraine over the summer and by next year.
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A Leopard 1A5 in motion at the 2015 military day in Uffenheim (Wikimedia Commons)
The German government has approved supplying Ukraine with Leopard 1 tanks over the summer and by next year according to reports by Spiegel magazine.
The majority of the tanks are scheduled to arrive in Ukraine in 2024 however, some of them will arrive this summer. It stated that the decision would be made public on Tuesday night.
The German government would issue permits approving the delivery of said tanks to two german military industries to supply Ukraine with 187 Leopard I tanks. Specifically, Rheinmetall will send 88 and the other 99 will be sent by Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft.
On Friday, February 5, German cabinet spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said that the government had approved exports of around 160 Leopard I tanks to Ukraine.
Read more: German industry stock might give Ukraine up to 160 Leopard I tanks
On February 3, Berlin voted to approve private arms maker Rheinmetall’s plan to deliver 88 Leopard 1s to Ukraine after maintenance work is completed.
On January 25, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz issued the announcement that Berlin would supply Kiev with 14 Leopard 2 battle tanks as part of a European coalition.
Read more: German cabinet confirms 14 Leopard 2 tanks to be delivered to Ukraine
