Poland reveals what prevents the repair of Ukrainian Leopard 2 tanks
14 July, 2023 Repair of Leopard 2 tanks in Poland. Footage from the Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa video Poland remains fully prepared to receive Ukrainian Leopard 2 tanks for repair, but it will not be able to do this without Germany.
The Polish Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) says that the repairs will be possible only if the necessary spare parts are provided, the main manufacturers of which are German companies. The Polish defense industry has experience in servicing Leopard 2 tanks, which are in service with the country. "Industry always declares its readiness to use the competences of Polish companies to support Ukraine in the struggle for independence," PGZ said.
German mass media reported earlier that Germany intended to terminate negotiations on the creation of a service center for Leopard tanks in Poland.
Repair of Leopard 2 tanks in Poland.
Footage from the Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa video
According to the Handelsblatt publication, the reason for the termination of the agreement on the creation of a tank repair center in Poland is "excessive price expectations of the Polish government". The center was supposed to launch at the end of May. After talks in April with Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak, his German counterpart Boris Pistorius said that both sides had reached the final stage of implementation.
According to Der Spiegel, the Polish Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) demands over EUR100,000 for "initial diagnostics" of tanks, while in Germany, while usually it costs about EUR12,000. In addition, PGZ does not wish to undertake any repair guarantees. The German Ministry of Defense has officially announced that the final decision has not yet been made, and negotiations with the Polish side are ongoing.
The purpose of establishing a service center is to service Leopard 2 tanks as close as possible to the border with Ukraine to utmost reduce the logistical burden.
Repair of Leopard 2 tanks in Poland.
Footage from the Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa video
The center was to be jointly created by the German arms manufacturers Rheinmetall and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), as well as the Polish defense company PGZ.
If the agreement with Poland is terminated, Leopard 2 tanks will be repaired in Germany and probably also in Lithuania.