Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.
Israeli media: 32% of Americans still support "Israel's" war on Hamas, while 60% oppose it.
Israeli media: Core US support for "Israel" hits its lowest, while support for Palestine reaches its highest levels.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reports martyrs, injuries in Israeli bombardment of home in Heker al-Jame area in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.
Al-Quds Governorate: Today, the spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque began in a public and dangerous manner, and we warn of a religious war in the region
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: This brings the total number of victims of famine and malnutrition to 175, including 93 children
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: Gaza's hospitals recorded six deaths due to starvation and malnutrition in the past 24 hours, all of them adults
Informed sources to Al Mayadeen: A new chapter in relations between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency will begin within the framework of the new law passed by Parliament

Scheduled delivery of German Leopard tanks to Kiev set after 2024

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Bild am Sonntag
  • 15 Jan 2023 19:31
3 Min Read

German defense firm Rheinmetall said the time required to repair tanks means that they will be delivered to Kiev after this year

  • x
  • German army soldiers load a Leopard 2 tank onto a truck at the Sestokai railway station some 175 kms (109 miles) west of the capital Vilnius, Lithuania, Friday, Feb. 24, 2017 (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)
    German army soldiers load a Leopard 2 tank onto a truck at the Sestokai railway station some 175 kms (109 miles) west of the capital Vilnius, Lithuania, Friday, Feb. 24, 2017 (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)

CEO of German Defense firm Rheinmetall Armin Papperger said that the delivery of Leopard battle tanks will take time to reach Ukraine due to maintenance work, the Bild am Sonntag newspaper reported on Sunday. "Even if the decision is made tomorrow for us to send our Leopard tanks to Kiev, the delivery itself will have to take at least until the beginning of next year," Papperger told the German news outlet.

Rheinmetall currently owns 22 Leopard 2 tanks and 88 copies of the older Leopard 1 model, according to the report, citing Papperger. He said that the repair of decommissioned battle tanks would take "almost a year" since "the tanks are not only repainted but have to be revamped for war purposes. They are completely dismantled and then rebuilt."

Rheinmetall cannot repair the tanks without a contract, Papperger said, because the costs go beyond several hundred million euros. Leopard tanks could however play a decisive role in the war, he noted. "With battle tanks, an army can break through enemy lines and end a prolonged trench warfare. With the Leopard tanks, soldiers can advance tens of kilometers at a time."

Read more: US DoD seeks to ink deals for technical assistance on Patriot Systems

Related News

Swiss stocks drained after Ukraine aid, to sell Leopards to restock

US arms purchases has France, Germany at odds, again

The pressure on the German government to deliver Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine has recently increased. On Wednesday, Poland announced that it agreed to hand over Leopard II battle tanks to Kiev to be used in the battle against Russia. Other countries are now following suit, including Finland.

On Saturday, the UK became the first country to announce plans for the delivery of heavy battle tanks to Kiev. The supply of the Challenger 2 tanks and additional artillery systems are intended to assist Ukrainian forces "push back the Russian troops," said British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

The British government has likewise increased pressure on Chancellor Olaf Scholz to send battle tanks to Kiev. Germany plays a key role in this debate because the tanks were initially developed in Germany. As a rule, the transfer of armaments from German production to third parties must be approved. 

The German army has already given up most of its Leopard tanks of older designs and exported them to Turkey, Greece, and Denmark, among other clients. The army still possesses around 300 modern versions but they have no plans of selling them. The army reportedly refused to provide additional details on the strengths, and equipment of associations, or units.

Read more: Western armored vehicles to Ukraine: breakthrough or stepback?

Germany has so far promised Ukraine Marder infantry fighting vehicles and Gepard anti-aircraft tanks. Papperger said Rheinmetall was ready to deliver 40 Marder IFVs. However, the prerequisite would be that Greece would initially forgo the second tranche of its delivery from a ring exchange. "Of course, we could give the remaining 20 'Marders' planned for Greece to Ukraine in a timely manner. More vehicles would follow in April because we are working under high pressure," said Papperger.

  • Leopard II
  • Germany
  • Kiev
  • Ukraine
  • tanks

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
An explosion seen during an Iranian missile attack on Tel Aviv, Occupied Palestine, June 13, 2025 (AP)

If Iran is attacked again, geography of response may change: IRGC spox

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS