Armored personnel carriers over Greece
Germany supplies “Dingo” vehicles and rocket launchers
09/15/2022, 3:40 p.m
The pressure on the federal government to deliver more weapons to Ukraine has been growing for days. Berlin is now announcing armored vehicles and rocket launchers. The main battle tanks desired by Kyiv are soon to arrive via Greece.
According to Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht, Germany will deliver two more Mars multiple rocket launchers and 50 Dingo armored vehicles to Ukraine. In addition, 200 rockets would be made available for the multiple rocket launchers, said the SPD politician in Berlin at the start of the Bundeswehr conference.
The all-protection transport vehicle Dingo is an armoured, air-portable and armed wheeled vehicle for patrol and reconnaissance trips. The government in Ukraine and also politicians in the traffic light coalition had recently increased the pressure and also demanded the delivery of German battle tanks to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia.
Lambrecht did not announce deliveries of armored personnel carriers and battle tanks, as requested by Ukraine. However, the exchange of rings with Greece, which has been in preparation for months, is “on the home straight”. Greece would then deliver 40 Soviet-designed BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles to the Ukraine and in return would receive 40 German Marder infantry fighting vehicles from German industrial stocks. “The first tanks can then be delivered from Greece to Ukraine very quickly,” said Lambrecht.
“The brutal Russian attack on Ukraine is a turning point. And we are clearly with them in the courageous struggle of the Ukrainians by imposing sanctions on Russia. We are offering around a million refugees a place of refuge,” said Lambrecht. “We provide financial support and we also support by supplying weapons. And it’s encouraging to see what successes Ukraine has been able to achieve in recent days, also with the help of German weapons.”
At the Bundeswehr conference, military and civilian experts will discuss the future course of the German armed forces. In addition to Lambrecht (SPD), General Inspector Eberhard Zorn – Germany’s highest-ranking soldier – will speak on the first day. Chancellor Scholz (SPD) is expected at the meeting in Berlin on Friday. The motto of the event is “The Bundeswehr at a turning point – a critical appraisal in times of war in Europe”. The Ministry of Defense describes the conference as a milestone in one of the most far-reaching change processes in the Bundeswehr since the end of the East-West conflict.