Germany handed over Patriot SAM launchers to Ukraine
9 August, 2023 Patriot SAM of the German armed forces. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of the Federal Republic of Germany The German government transferred two launchers of the Patriot air defense system to Ukraine.
On its official website, the German government stated that it had handed over additional defensive equipment. In addition to Patriot launchers, ten Bandvagn 206 all-terrain vehicles were included in the new assistance package, earlier, Ukraine received 18 such vehicles. Germany pledged to supply Ukraine with 64 Bandvagn 206 tracked all-terrain vehicles.
Bandvagn 206 vehicles are already outdated for Germany and would be replaced by new BvS10 all-terrain vehicles.
Bandvagn 206 tracked all-terrain vehicles of the German military during exercises in Estonia.
2018. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of Germany
Ukraine also received 6,705 additional 155mm smoke shells, which should provide disguise on the battlefield.
The German government sent materials to neutralize explosive objects. The new assistance package also includes 20000 goggles for the military, 1163 binoculars, 40 thousand first-aid kits, and 4 VECTOR drones.
Vector UAV. Photo credits: Quantum-Systems
Among the vehicles, there are 5 cars for Ukrainian border guards, 6 8x8 HX81 trucks with trailers, and 6 trucks with a wheel arrangement 8x6.
MG5 machine guns
The German government also added 100 of its new MG5 machine guns to the military assistance of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The MG5 was first demonstrated in 2009. Structurally, it is based on a MG4 5.56x45mm machine gun, which was adopted by the German army in 2003. Maschinengewehr 5 is still known as HK121.
It was created by Heckler & Koch under the standard NATO 7.62x51mm cartridge, powered due to a cartridge-belt.
German MG5 machine guns of the Bundeswehr. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of Germany
The weight of the MG5 ranges from 10 to 12 kg depending on the version, which also regulates the length of the barrel: 460 or 550 mm. The rate of fire of the machine gun: 640, 720 and 800 rounds per minute, and is controlled by the soldier using a selector.
The aiming range is declared at the level of 600-1000 meters from the bipod and up to 1500 meters for the mounted machine gun version.