Ukraine receives more Marder infantry fighting vehicles from Germany

Germany handed over to Ukraine a new tranche of military aid, which included a large number of Marder infantry fighting vehicles. A new batch of assistance is part of the agreements concluded previously. The full list of all military aid is published on the German government website.

Ukraine received another 20 Marder infantry fighting vehicles and two Wisent 1 mine clearing tanks. In addition, 5 trucks (presumably MAN HX 8x8), 3 ambulances, one HX81 truck tractor train, and 4 semi-trailers, as well as 9 other vehicles were transferred.

German MAN HX 8x8 trucks. Photo from open sources

The package also included 15 million rounds of ammunition for small arms, 3,000 155-mm artillery rounds, and an unknown amount of material for explosive ordnance disposal.

The Ukrainian military received 20 RQ-35 Heidrun reconnaissance drones. They've also been delivered 1 Satcom surveillance system, 2 mobile antenna mast systems, and 10 drone detection systems.

The RQ-35 Heidrun drone. Photo from open sources

RQ-35 Heidruns are already being used by the Defense Forces of Ukraine in the war against Russia: 60 of these drones have already been transferred by Germany, and a certain number were purchased by the United24 charity foundation.

The unmanned system is designed to conduct low-altitude reconnaissance and surveillance. The drone can be deployed in 5 minutes and launched by hand. The aircraft can stay in the air for up to 90 minutes and conduct reconnaissance at a distance of up to 12 kilometers.

With a cruising speed of 60 km/h, its "ceiling" is 3.5 kilometers.

Additional Marder IFVs

On September 11, the German government authorized Rheinmetall to supply an additional number of Marder infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine. 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 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.