The German army's Leopard 1A5 at the 2015 military day in Uffenheim, Germany. File photo: Rainer Lippert/Wikimedia Commons
Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands will supply Ukraine with 178 older generation Leopard 1 battle tanks within the next few months, according to a joint statement of the German, Danish, and Dutch defense ministers, Bloomberg reported.
Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius confirmed that the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) will start a joint initiative with Denmark and the Netherlands to support Ukraine with refurbished Leopard 1 A5 main battle tanks from industrial stocks
Verteidigungsminister Pistorius und seine Amtskollegen aus 🇩🇰 und🇳🇱 starten heute eine gemeinsame Initiative zur Unterstützung der #Ukraine mit instandgesetzten Kampfpanzern #Leopard1 A5 aus Industriebeständen. Weitere Informationen 👇https://t.co/9U5OKZSUuW
— Verteidigungsministerium (@BMVg_Bundeswehr) February 7, 2023
“Within the coming months, Ukraine will receive at least 100 Leopard 1 A5 battle tanks,” according to the joint statement of the defense ministers of Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands.
The total number of Leopard 1 A5 battle tanks could reach 178, the Defense Minister of Germany announced.
Germany’s Scholz sent Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine after “pressure from all sides” – MP
The deliveries are planned to be made in stages, with about 25 Leopard 1 tanks to arrive in Ukraine by summer and more than 100 tanks to be delivered by early next year, according to Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.
The Leopard 1 A5 battle tank is no longer in production. It used to be the main battle tank used by the armed forces of West Germany back in the 1970s. Leopard 1 was succeeded by the Leopard 2, the third generation of the German main battle tank that entered service in 1979. Leopard 2 is significantly faster and better armored, with a more powerful gun and an improved targeting system.
Related:
- Germany approves Leopard 1 delivery to Ukraine, wants purchase back Gepards from Qatar for Ukraine – media
- Spain to send up to six Leopard 2A4 tanks to Ukraine – El País
- Portugal to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine – PM
- Germany’s Leopard tanks will arrive in Ukraine in 3–4 months
Tags: Denmark, Germany, Leopard 1, Leopard 2, military aid to Ukraine, Netherlands, Russian invasion of Ukraine
