Spain will hand over Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine in early April
29 March, 2023 A Leopard 2A4 with a Ukrainian crew during training in Zaragoza, Spain, on March 13, 2023. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of Spain Spain will hand over the first six Leopard 2A4 tanks to Ukraine right after Easter (April 8-9 in Spain).
El Pais reported this with reference to its own sources in the government. It is noted that six tanks were already restored at the Santa B?rbara Sistemas plant in Alcal? de Guada?ra (Seville). This week, they are shooting at the Cerro Muriano range (C?rdoba).
After preparation, the equipment will be sent to Poland by sea, and from there, it will be delivered to Ukraine.
Leopard 2A4 tank at the GDELS-SBS enterprise. Spain, March 2023. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of Spain
Also this week, four additional Leopard 2A4 tanks, announced by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro S?nchez, will arrive at the plant for repairs.
Like the first six, they were stored at the base in Zaragoza. According to the media, the first tanks were in better condition, and 2,500 thousand hours of work were needed to repair them. The cost of restoration was EUR 4.1 million - 683,300 per unit.
The work took about six weeks. The repair of the second batch will be more expensive and will take longer.
Leopard 2A4 of the Spanish Army. Photo from open sources
It is emphasized that Leopard 2 tanks are the most visible aid to Ukraine, but Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles announced that twenty more M113 armored personnel carriers will be delivered to Ukraine in addition to the twenty previously promised.
Self-propelled mortar based on M113 of the Spanish military. Photo from open sources
The day before, Ukraine received eighteen Leopard 2A6 tanks from Germany and three such tanks from Portugal. Before that, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported that the UK had already handed over eighteen Challenger 2 tanks to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Also, at the beginning of March, Poland handed over all fourteen promised Leopard 2A4 tanks to Ukraine.
It is known that on March 20, Norway transferred eight Leopard 2A4NO tanks, two Bergepanzer 2 armored recovery vehicles, and two NM189 Ingeni?rpanservogn armored engineer vehicles.