German defense company Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft (FFG) has commenced the construction of an advanced armored vehicle repair center in western Ukraine.
This move is poised to enhance the efficiency of repair operations for military equipment supplied by FFG, such as the Leopard 1 tanks.
German Member of Parliament, Markus Faber, revealed the news, stating, "In the west of Ukraine, Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft is developing a repair center for armored vehicles that need repair, such as Leopard 1, which it supplied."
Faber emphasized the strategic importance of establishing domestic repair facilities, highlighting that it will significantly reduce repair times and eliminate the need for expensive and time-consuming transportation of equipment abroad. Furthermore, the initiative will provide an opportunity for the Ukrainian armed forces to train their mechanics on-site.
This move positions FFG as the second German defense company, following Rheinmetall, to establish its facilities in Ukraine. The Minister of Strategic Industries, Oleksandr Kamyshin, had previously disclosed in October 2023 that FFG would collaborate with a private Ukrainian defense industrial company to cover the entire spectrum of German weapons coming to Ukraine and enable local servicing.
FFG, recognized as one of Ukraine's major suppliers of armored vehicles, specializes in military equipment repair and the development of specialized vehicles. Notably, the company is known for supplying Leopard 1A5 tanks, WiSENT 1 MC engineering vehicles, Pionierpanzer 2A1 Dachs, and IRIS-T SLS air defense systems.
The FFG Industries Ukraine joint venture was officially registered on October 12, 2023, according to public sources.
Dennis Bürjes, a member of the management board at FFG, confirmed the growing business ties with Ukraine, indicating the delivery of nearly 700 armored vehicles to the Ukrainian army, including bridge-laying tanks, recovery tanks, and engineer tanks. Bürjes emphasized the company's commitment to supporting Ukraine's defense capabilities, noting that FFG had been involved in arms deliveries even when it was not politically opportune to deliver combat tanks.