Some 150 Leopard, Challenger & Abrams Tanks Expected in UKraine

  • Defensemirror.com Bureau
  • 05:39 PM, January 25, 2023
  • 1091
Some 150 Leopard, Challenger & Abrams Tanks Expected in UKraine
Leopard 2 A4 main battle tank (Image: Rheinmetall)

Some 150 Leopard tanks are expected to arrive in Ukraine a few months from now following a German decision to supply 28 tanks from Bundeswar (German Army) stocks besides allowing its allies to re-export tanks sold earlier by Germany.
In addition, the UK government has decided to send 14 of its Challenger tanks while the United States is reported to be sending 31 Abrams tanks. This is against a requirement of 300 tanks requested by Ukraine's President Zelensky to drive the Russians out of the occupied parts of his country.
Spanish media reported that Madrid has decided to send 53 out of 108 Leopard tanks its possesses to Ukraine.

Some 150 Leopard, Challenger & Abrams Tanks Expected in UKraine
Challenger 2 battle tank

Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced in the cabinet on Wednesday that the federal government has decided to provide the Ukrainian armed forces with Leopard 2 main battle tanks. Of these 14 will be supplied in the near future and 14 later to make up two tank batallions.
"The goal is to quickly assemble two tank battalions with Leopard 2 tanks for Ukraine. As a first step, Germany will provide a company with 14 Leopard 2 A6 tanks from Bundeswehr stocks. Other European partners will also hand over Leopard-2 tanks. The training of the Ukrainian crews is to begin quickly in Germany. In addition to training, the package will also include logistics, ammunition and system maintenance," A German MoD release said
Germany will issue the appropriate transfer permits to partner countries that want to quickly deliver Leopard 2 tanks from their stocks to Ukraine, the press statement said Wednesday.

Some 150 Leopard, Challenger & Abrams Tanks Expected in UKraine
M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank

The training of the Ukrainian crews is expected to quickly start in Germany. In addition to training, the package will also include logistics, ammunition and maintenance.
It must be remenbered that the Leopard tanks commited to Ukraine come in several variants, some of which were manufactured two decades ago. This will complicate the process of training, maintenance and parts supply.

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