Germany to transfer additional number of Marder infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine
11 September, 2023 Marder 1A3 IFV. Photo from the open sources The German government has commissioned Rheinmetall to supply an additional number of Marder infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine.
The announcement was published on the company's official website. It regards 40 additional Marder 1A3 infantry fighting vehicles. Placed in August 2023, the order is worth a high double-digit million-euro amount.
However, the exact cost is not disclosed. The company is currently operating at full capacity to fulfill orders and repair equipment for Ukraine in a timely manner.
The Marder 1A3 IFV at Rheinmetall's plant in Unterluss. Photo credits: Bild
Due to this order, the total number of Marder vehicles to be supplied by Rheinmetall to Ukraine was brought to eighty. The company is handing over Marder 1A3 IFVs formerly used by the German Army, which are undergoing major repairs to continue their service in the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The work is carried out at the facilities in Unterluss and Kassel. The production capacity allows for the repair of about 10 infantry fighting vehicles per month. Back in the spring of 2022, Rheinmetall initiated a major overhaul of Marder for the future transfer to Ukraine.
The first batch consisting of 20 vehicles of this type was shipped to Ukraine on March 21, 2023. In addition, in June 2023, the company handed over 20 additional Marder 1A3 infantry fighting vehicles.
Marder 1A3 of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces during exercises. Photo credits: Ukrainian Air Assault Forces
As Militarnyi previously reported, the German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall planned to start servicing tanks in Ukraine by the end of August.
German-made military equipment used by the Defense Forces of Ukraine will be serviced at the repair center.
The CEO of the German concern also added that the first twelve Ukrainian employees had already been trained in Germany.
Now the second group, also consisting of twelve Ukrainians, has arrived for training.