Rheinmetall is preparing a new batch of Leopard 1 tanks for Ukraine

14 November, 2023 Leopard 1A5 tank. Photo from the open sources The Government of Ukraine has signed a contract with the German company Rheinmetall to produce a new batch of Leopard 1 tanks for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The company's official website reported on this. This order is for the repair and modernization of 25 Leopard 1A5 tanks, five Bergepanzer 2 armored recovery vehicles, and two training tanks for driver training. The order is financed by Germany and worth a figure in the upper-two-digit million-euro range.

Leopard 1A5 tank at the Krauss-Maffei Wegmann company.

Source: twitter.com/nicholadrummond

The order also covers training, logistics, spare parts, maintenance, and other support services. Delivery is due to take place in 2024. The Leopard 1 systems are currently being overhauled and readied for use at Rheinmetall's plants in Unterluss and Kassel.

Rheinmetall thus continues to support Ukraine with a steady flow of tactical vehicles, the company stated.

In addition to the preparation of Leopard 1A5 main battle tanks and special equipment based on them, the company continues to deliver the previously announced Marder 1A3 infantry fighting vehicles.

The company is to supply about 80 IFVs, most of which are already in Ukraine and being used at the front.

Marder 1A3 of the Airborne Assault Troops during training exercises at the training ground. Photo credits: Ukrainian Air Assault Forces

In addition, the company is ready to provide the Armed Forces of Ukraine with an additional 20 armored personnel carriers if it receives an order from Ukraine. Additionally, Rheinmetall will prepare 14 Leopard 2A4 tanks for delivery next year, which will be produced jointly with the governments of Denmark and the Netherlands.

Militarnyi previously reported that Germany's budget for 2024 is to include an additional EUR4 billion for military assistance to Ukraine. An agreement on this was reached in the German parliament this week. Next week, the Bundestag Budget Committee will officially decide on an additional EUR4 billion.

As a result, the total amount of aid for military support to Ukraine will become EUR8 billion.

Initially, the Federal Budget for 2024 assumes only EUR4 billion euros for military aid to Ukraine.