From howitzer to cheetah
What Germany has delivered to Ukraine so far
8/3/2022, 8:16 p.m
The federal government hesitated for a long time when it came to supplying heavy weapons to Ukraine. Two months after the start of the Russian war of aggression, there were the first commitments from Berlin – but it still took many weeks before the first delivery. The Defense Committee of the Bundestag will deal with the question on Wednesday afternoon. An overview:
Cheetah anti-aircraft tank
The retired GEPARD tanks first had to be repaired.
(Photo: IMAGO/Sven Eckelkamp)
At the end of April, the federal government promised a heavy weapon system for the first time. She gave the go-ahead for the delivery of 30 decommissioned Gepard anti-aircraft tanks. They come from the armaments company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), but first had to be repaired. The first eight Gepard tanks have been delivered since late July. According to original plans, the 22 others were to follow by the end of August.
Industry in Germany trained Ukrainian soldiers on the weapon system. The problem was the ammo. Initially, only around 60,000 shots were available, which was often criticized as insufficient due to the high rate of fire of the anti-aircraft guns. A Norwegian manufacturer should now deliver more.
Howitzer 2000
At the beginning of May, Federal Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) also announced the sale of seven 2000 self-propelled howitzers from Bundeswehr stocks. A few days later, the multi-week training course for Ukrainian soldiers on howitzers mounted on a tank chassis began.
The howitzers were then delivered in the second half of June – as the first heavy weapon system from Germany. Three more copies followed at the end of July, bringing the total number to ten. The Panzerhaubitze 2000 can shoot 30 to 40 kilometers and fire up to ten shells per minute.
Aids already provided In preparation/implementation
MARS II multiple rocket launcher
At the beginning of June, Germany also announced that it would be disposing of three MARS II multiple rocket launchers from Bundeswehr stocks. They were delivered at the end of July. This includes several hundred missiles with a range of around 80 kilometers. The USA has taken over the training of the weapon system, which brings an important strategic advantage for Ukraine due to its long range. Washington has delivered a similar system to Ukraine with HIMARS missile launchers.
The launch batteries with a combat load of twelve missiles are mounted on tracked vehicles that can develop speeds of up to 50 kilometers per hour.
(Photo: imago images/Chris Emil Janssen)
Air defense system IRIS-T SLM
On June 1, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) promised to provide the state-of-the-art IRIS-T SLM air defense system. According to him, it can protect “an entire city from Russian air raids.” The Bundeswehr does not have this system, Iris-T SLM is said to be supplied by the German manufacturer Diehl. However, it will probably only be available for Ukraine in months – we are talking about autumn.
Ukrainian soldiers are to be trained on the IRIS-T SLM anti-aircraft missile system.
(Foto: IMAGO/eventfoto54)
Tracking radar Cobra
Scholz also announced the delivery of the modern Cobra locating radar on June 1st. It can be used to reconnoiter the positions of enemy artillery positions up to 100 kilometers away. It is to be delivered via the industry.
According to the Bundeswehr, COBRA should be able to spot up to 40 enemy positions within two minutes.
(Photo: imago images / Sven Eckelkamp)
Bridge laying tank Biber
At the end of July, the German government also announced the delivery of 16 Biber armored bridge-laying vehicles. With them, the Ukrainian troops could “overcome water or obstacles in combat,” the German Defense Ministry said. The first six tanks are said to be delivered this year, starting in the fall. Ten more systems will follow next year.
With the armored bridge-laying tank Biber, cuts in the terrain, gorges or bodies of water can be overcome.
(Photo: IMAGO/Sven Eckelkamp)
Panzer ring exchange via NATO partners
Since April, the German government has also relied on indirect tank deliveries via eastern NATO partners. Countries such as Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Poland and Greece were supposed to deliver weapons from the Soviet era to the Ukraine and receive modern replacements from Germany. There is no information about a ring exchange that has already been completed.