Germany is moving on the issue of supplying heavy weapons to Ukraine. According to information from Süddeutsche Zeitung the Chancellery is now ready to deliver tanks to the war zone. Specifically, it is about 50 anti-aircraft gun tanks – anti-aircraft tanks – of the type cheetah, which has already been retired from the Bundeswehr. However, the industry still has leftover stocks. Federal Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) intends to make a corresponding commitment at a meeting at the invitation of the USA at Ramstein Air Force Base.
On Tuesday, shortly before the meeting, the Defense Ministry said: “Germany is helping Ukraine – with weapons, ammunition, money, equipment and humanitarian goods.” Russia’s attack is also an attack “on all of our freedom, democracy and our values”. the cheetah-Tanks are based on the main battle tank chassis Leopard 1 and are equipped with two 35mm cannons and radar. In addition to air targets, you can also engage ground targets.
The decision was made on Monday, and Lambrecht supports it. Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the SPD are giving in to the growing pressure from their own camp. In the past few days, the FDP and Greens in the traffic light government had increasingly vehemently called on the head of government to support Ukraine in the fight against Russian troops, including with heavy weapons such as tanks. The CDU and CSU in the opposition intend to increase the pressure on Scholz in the Bundestag this week with a request for arms deliveries.
The offer that cheetah-The industry has been selling anti-aircraft tanks to Ukraine for a long time. In addition to the fundamental concerns, especially in the SPD, there was a practical reason for the hesitation: it was said that there was hardly any ammunition available for the weapon system that is also suitable for combating drones. This problem seems to be solved. You have found what you are looking for in nations that cheetah still use, including Brazil. The country used the system in 2014 to protect the World Cup.
The Netherlands wants to deliver German self-propelled howitzers
Germany also wants to support Ukraine with heavy artillery, albeit indirectly. The Netherlands wants guns of the type Howitzer 2000 deliver to the Ukraine, which come from German production. So far it’s been about a few guns, there’s talk of five. Training on this weapon system takes place exclusively in Germany. The federal government has already promised to train Ukrainian soldiers in Germany. Berlin also wants to help out with ammunition.
According to SZ information, it is now also being considered to provide the Netherlands with self-propelled howitzers from Bundeswehr stocks if the partner is willing to send more of his own PzH 2000 send to Ukraine. The Netherlands has a more modern variant. The tank howitzers from Germany are all around 20 years old. It should be avoided to supply different models in order not to make their use even more difficult for Ukraine.
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US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has invited 40 states to the Ramstein conference to coordinate, among other things, arms deliveries to Ukraine. On Monday, he and Foreign Minister Tony Blinken agreed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv. Around 20 countries will be represented at ministerial level, with Germany represented by Christine Lambrecht. Non-NATO countries also take part in the meeting.
So far, the federal government has not complied with Kiev’s request for armored personnel carriers of the type marten to deliver. The Defense Ministry argues that the Bundeswehr needs its copies to ensure national defense and NATO alliance obligations. Delivery from industry stocks is only possible after the stored vehicles have been repaired, and Ukrainian soldiers would also have to be trained on the tank. However, also for the cheetah-Panzer training to operate the weapon system is probably essential.
Industry has the export of 100 marten– Armored personnel carriers requested from the federal government, as government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit confirmed on Monday. Also, Rheinmetall Ukraine has delivered 88 used Leopard-1-Battle tanks offered. This emerges from documents available to the German Press Agency. According to this, the offer also includes crew training in Germany, training for repairs, tools, spare parts, a service base and ammunition. First had the World informed about the offer.
So far, circles of defense politicians in the coalition have said that the federal government has asked around the world about available ammunition for these tanks. Greece vehicles of the type Leopard 1 from Germany, but have already resold the relevant stocks. Of the Leopard 1 is armed with a 105mm cannon. Modern battle tanks in NATO usually fire 120 millimeter shells.