Spain to deliver first six Leopard 2A4 MBTs to Ukraine in the coming days
22 April, 2023 Leopard 2A4 tank at the GDELS-SBS enterprise. Spain. March 2023.
Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of Spain Spain will supply Ukraine with the first six Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks in the coming days as part of defense support. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares made the announcement in an interview with the newspapers of the Funke Mediengruppe media group.
According to the minister, Spain plans to supply Ukraine with six Leopard 2A4 tanks of the ten promised in the coming days. The remaining four are expected to arrive at a later date, as they are now being restored at the Spanish defense plant Santa Barbara Sistemas in Alcala de Guadaira (Seville). "After that, there will be a second package with four more tanks," Albares said.
Leopard 2A4 tank at the GDELS-SBS factory. Spain.
March 2023. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of Spain
The first six tanks underwent the restoration in six weeks, according to media reports. At the end of March, they entered the testing and fire trials phase.
According to El Pais, the restoration of the second batch of four Leopard 2A4 tanks will last longer due to their technical condition. Minister Albares stressed that Spain would support Ukraine as long as it needs it. "This includes humanitarian assistance, reception of refugees and supply of defense weapons," the Foreign Minister said.
It is noted that Ukraine uses weapons for self-defense against Russian full-scale invasion and restoration of territorial integrity. Over the past few weeks, 55 Ukrainian military personnel have been trained as crew members and technicians of Leopard main battle tanks in Spain.
A Leopard 2A4 with a Ukrainian crew during training in Zaragoza, Spain, on March 13, 2023. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of Spain
Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles earlier reported that the delivery of Leopard 2A4 tanks would be carried out by sea.
Madrid pledged to transfer a total of 10 tanks to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
A Leopard 2A4 with a Ukrainian crew during training in Zaragoza, Spain, on March 13, 2023. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of Spain
The Spanish Army has 347 Leopard tanks on its balance sheet. Of these, 239 are Leopard 2E tanks which are produced in Spain, while 108 are used Leopard 2A4 tanks bought from Germany.
Most of those 2A4 Leopard tanks were withdrawn over ten years ago to the army logistics base in Zaragoza and mothballed (removing batteries, lubricants, etc.) to prevent deterioration of technical condition.
Therefore, these tanks require restoration work at a specialized enterprise before being transferred.