Repaired German Leopard tanks for Ukraine ready in 2024 at earliest, armsmaker says



[1/2] Members of the army stroll on a tank, as Germany can provide its first Leopard tanks to Slovakia as a part of a deal after Slovakia donated stopping cars to Ukraine, in Bratislava, Slovakia, December 19, 2022. REUTERS/Radovan Stoklasa/File Photo

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BERLIN, Jan 15 () - German armsmaker Rheinmetall (RHMG.DE) should deliver repaired Leopard 2 struggle tanks to Ukraine in 2024 on the earliest and could need a showed order to start preservation, its chief executive changed into quoted as saying through Bild newspaper on Sunday.

Germany introduced in advance this month that it'd provide Ukraine with forty Marder infantry fighting vehicles to help repel Russian forces.

But Kyiv has also asked heavier cars along with the Leopards, that may represent a big step-up in Western useful resource to Ukraine. Still, Economy Minister Robert Habeck said in advance this month turning within the Leopard tanks couldn't be "ruled out". The German military has best round 350 Leopard 2 tanks nowadays, in comparison to some 4,000 battle essential tanks at the peak of the Cold War.

For Rheinmetall, repairing the tanks it has in stock - as a minimum 22 Leopard 2 tanks and 88 Leopard 1 tanks - ought to fee numerous hundred million euros, Papperger informed Bild.

"The motors ought to be completely dismantled and rebuilt," he added.

The organization additionally has one hundred Marder motors, Papperger said, but these can also need protection taking seven to eight months before they can be used.

Rheinmetall did now not reply to an emailed request for comment on Sunday.

Germany has end up one of Ukraine's top navy supporters in reaction to Russia's invasion after final 12 months, overcoming a taboo that is rooted in its bloody twentieth century facts on sending guns to struggle zones.

Still, critics say German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his ruling SPD are too sluggish, expecting allies to act first in region of assuming Germany's obligation because the Western electricity closest to Ukraine.

Germany's defence industry is banned via regulation from generating tanks for inventory-maintaining. Even if manufacturing were ramped up, professionals say it may take at least years for modern day tanks to be ready to be used.

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