Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest news from USA, Canada and Europe directly to your inbox.

    What's Hot

    Laurent Berger in “Le Monde”, from one pension reform to another

    April 1, 2023

    Pope Francis: I’m still alive

    April 1, 2023

    Gendarmerie caught 394 irregular migrants in a week in Kırklareli

    April 1, 2023
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms
    • Contact
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    West ObserverWest Observer
    • Home
    • News
      1. United States
      2. Europe
      3. Canada
      4. Latin America
      5. Australia
      6. World
      7. View All

      Pakistani Village Seen as Model of Climate Resilience

      April 1, 2023

      Taiwan President Visits Guatemala

      April 1, 2023

      US To Open Embassy in Vanuatu

      April 1, 2023

      New Orleans Embraces Its French Roots

      April 1, 2023

      Laurent Berger in “Le Monde”, from one pension reform to another

      April 1, 2023

      Pope Francis: I’m still alive

      April 1, 2023

      Gendarmerie caught 394 irregular migrants in a week in Kırklareli

      April 1, 2023

      The American general explained why the US does not supply ATACMS to Ukraine and what it can give instead

      April 1, 2023

      Federal minimum wage, taxes on alcohol: Here’s what’s changing in Canada April 1

      April 1, 2023

      Interim RCMP commissioner would support Criminal Code changes for stricter gun laws

      April 1, 2023

      Vancouver Canucks winger Andrei Kuzmenko skips warm-up over Pride jersey

      April 1, 2023

      TikTok attorney: China can’t get U.S. data under plan

      April 1, 2023

      what’s up the streamings in april

      April 1, 2023

      What happens in the human brain when people tell lies

      April 1, 2023

      Uber cuts 74% of the rideshares in the US, leaving Lyft to “eat poeira”

      April 1, 2023

      Russia assumes the presidency of the Security Council and weakens even more image of the UN

      April 1, 2023

      The difference of opinion of the two theorists over the secret of “hosh-made chips”

      April 1, 2023

      The French League prohibits stopping matches for “breaking the fast” of fasting people

      April 1, 2023

      Are Republicans heading towards a “third option” in the elections?

      April 1, 2023

      A Sudanese Ramadan series raises controversy about “Islamists”

      April 1, 2023

      Laurent Berger in “Le Monde”, from one pension reform to another

      April 1, 2023

      Pope Francis: I’m still alive

      April 1, 2023

      Gendarmerie caught 394 irregular migrants in a week in Kırklareli

      April 1, 2023

      The American general explained why the US does not supply ATACMS to Ukraine and what it can give instead

      April 1, 2023
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Lifestyle
    • Tech
    • Sports
    • Travel
    • More
      • Entertainment
      • Videos
    en English
    en Englishes Españolfr Françaisde Deutschhi हिन्दीit Italianoja 日本語pt Portuguêsru Русскийzh-CN 简体中文
    West ObserverWest Observer
    Home » Leopard 2 tanks: Fast to Ukraine, replacement takes a long time

    Leopard 2 tanks: Fast to Ukraine, replacement takes a long time

    January 27, 2023No Comments Europe
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Reddit Telegram
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    Now it is supposed to happen quickly with the delivery of 14 Leopard 2 tanks from the German armed forces to the Ukraine as part of a European Leopard consortium. Germany wants to give the Ukrainian army the second most modern type A6, Poland apparently the Leopard 2 A4. “They are now being assembled with ammunition and material packages and, according to reports, will be delivered from the end of March,” Göran Swistek from the Berlin Science and Politics Foundation (SWP) told DW. The think tank also advises the German government and parliament.

    It will take much more time for the German army to replace the Leopard tanks it has given up, according to SWP researcher Swistek, who has the rank of frigate captain in the German Navy. “The gap that then arises to fill these stocks is quite a large one, which I believe can last at least a year.” However, the federal government would first have to order supplies from industry.

    So far no Leopard 2 back order from the industry

    The Leopard 2 is jointly produced in Germany by the two armorers Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall. When asked by DW, the Düsseldorf-based Rheinmetall group declined to comment. According to SWP security expert Swistek, “from a wide range of sectors, including the German armaments industry,” he said, “there have been no purchase inquiries or written applications” from the German government. “Getting an equivalent model now or a similar model that has been revised out of the economic cycle or a completely new model: we’re talking about a much longer period of time.”

    Frigate Commander Göran Swistek works as a security expert at the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) in Berlin

    Even more: According to German media reports, the Ministry of Defense has not yet ordered any weapons as part of the 100 billion euro special package for the Bundeswehr, which Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced shortly after the start of the Russian invasion, almost a year ago, on February 24, in announced in his speech on the “turning point in time”. “Apparently because these decisions about the subsequent purchase have not yet been made,” says the SWP specialist, referring to the Leopard 2.

    According to an inventory list by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), the Bundeswehr has 223 Leopard 2 tanks of the similar A5 and A6 series. In order for Western tank aid to make a difference to Ukraine in its defensive struggle against the Russian invaders, the attacked country needs at least 100 Western tanks, according to the IISS. This corresponds to the equipment of three tank battalions of the Ukrainian army. In addition to Germany and Poland, several European countries have signaled a delivery after the German government’s decision to deliver battle tanks. Finally, Norway, which according to the IISS list should only have 36 Leopard 2 A4s.

    Leopard training for Ukrainians already started

    However, training programs for Ukrainian tank crews apparently existed even before the decision to supply Leopards was made. So now everything could actually happen very quickly – with the western tanks in Ukraine. However, the Ukrainian army will have to wait longer for the 31 Abrams main battle tanks promised by the USA. Last Wednesday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak again arranged to meet with US President Joe Biden to discuss further details of the Ukraine aid.

    President Joe Biden seated at a desk with a telephone receiver in his left hand

    US President Joe Biden: Abrams tanks for Ukraine should only be ordered from industry

    Shortly before, the White House had dampened journalists’ expectations that the USA would also quickly send its Abrams to Ukraine. The Pentagon does not want to deliver the Abrams for Kyiv from US Army stocks, but rather to order them from industry. And that can take time: possibly more than ten months.

    Ukraine now needs the Leopard 2 all the more urgently, Ukrainian military expert Oleksandr Kovalenko told DW. The Ukrainian army lost a lot of tanks in the fight against the Russian invaders, the exact number is kept secret in Kyiv.

    With quality against the Russian quantity

    Russia has also lost many tanks, but can send more equipment to the Ukrainian front from an almost inexhaustible supply. “We cannot rule the battlefield through quantity, but through quality,” says Kovalenko. If things go quickly – with the tank deliveries, but also with the military planning for the coming weeks.

    Five M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks lined up at the US Army base at Grafenwoehr in Germany

    US Abrams main battle tank at the American base in Grafenwoehr in Germany

    US General Mark Milley recently said on the sidelines of the donor conference of the Ukraine contact group at the US Base in Ramstein, Germany. This much seems certain: the time pressure for the Ukrainian defenders is enormous. Most Western experts agree that Russia is preparing for a new major offensive in Ukraine.

    Source: DW

    Krauss-Maffei Wegmann leopard 2 Rheinmetall AG Ukraine
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email VKontakte WhatsApp

    Related Posts

    Laurent Berger in “Le Monde”, from one pension reform to another

    April 1, 2023

    Pope Francis: I’m still alive

    April 1, 2023

    Gendarmerie caught 394 irregular migrants in a week in Kırklareli

    April 1, 2023

    The American general explained why the US does not supply ATACMS to Ukraine and what it can give instead

    April 1, 2023

    It became known about the plans of another agro-industrial giant to leave Russia

    April 1, 2023

    The 5 things you should know this March 31: Trump, accused

    April 1, 2023
    Don't Miss

    Gendarmerie caught 394 irregular migrants in a week in Kırklareli

    Europe April 1, 2023

    Provincial Gendarmerie Command teams carried out activities within the scope of combating irregular migration on…

    The American general explained why the US does not supply ATACMS to Ukraine and what it can give instead

    April 1, 2023

    It became known about the plans of another agro-industrial giant to leave Russia

    April 1, 2023

    China escalates tech battle with review of US chipmaker Micron

    April 1, 2023
    Stay In Touch
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Vimeo
    Our Picks

    Moondust From Soviet Lunar Mission Up For Sale At $1.25 Million

    April 1, 2023

    NLRB says Activision Blizzard illegally surveilled employees during a walkout

    April 1, 2023

    Federal minimum wage, taxes on alcohol: Here’s what’s changing in Canada April 1

    April 1, 2023

    ‘This is not a zoo’ – Why sex workers are protesting in Amsterdam | CNN

    April 1, 2023

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest news from USA, Canada and Europe directly to your inbox.

    About Us
    About Us

    Your #1 source for all the website news, follow USA, Europe and Canada News. Latest reports about business, politics and entertainment.

    We're accepting new partnerships right now.

    Email Us: [email protected]

    Facebook Twitter YouTube LinkedIn
    Our Picks

    Laurent Berger in “Le Monde”, from one pension reform to another

    April 1, 2023

    Pope Francis: I’m still alive

    April 1, 2023

    Gendarmerie caught 394 irregular migrants in a week in Kırklareli

    April 1, 2023
    Newsletter

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest news from USA, Canada and Europe directly to your inbox.

    © 2023 West Observer. All Rights Reserved.
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms
    • Contact
    • Khaleej Voice

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.