More Leopard 2 combat tanks to Ukraine

The Dutch government has commissioned Rheinmetall to deliver fourteen Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks to Ukraine. Previously – in April 2023 – the governments of the Kingdoms of the Netherlands and Denmark had announced their intention to jointly acquire Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks and provide them to Ukraine for their defense efforts. The current order, jointly financed by the Dutch and Danish governments within the framework of the international tank coalition to effectively support Ukraine, amounts to a low triple-digit million euro volume.

A corresponding contractual agreement has now been reached between representatives of both kingdoms, the German federal government, and representatives of Rheinmetall. The first vehicle is scheduled to be delivered in January 2024, with the remaining deliveries to take place throughout the year 2024. The available vehicles are refurbished Leopard 2A4 tanks that Rheinmetall acquired from previous stocks of various user countries. With this, the Düsseldorf-based technology conglomerate underscores its significant role as a supplier for military support to the Ukrainian armed forces.

The delivery is part of Rheinmetall's comprehensive support for Ukraine's defense efforts. Rheinmetall is now the sole source for supplying the country with larger quantities of new medium and large caliber ammunition types such as 20mm (Marder) as well as 105mm (Leopard 1) and 120mm (Leopard 2) for the Ukrainian armed forces. Soon, a first batch of 35mm ammunition for Gepard antiaircraft cannon tanks will be delivered.

Rheinmetall also provides substantial support in combat vehicles, either through exchange agreements with partner nations or through direct deliveries. In March 2023, Rheinmetall had already sent the first 20 Marder infantry fighting vehicles ordered by the German government to Ukraine. Recently, a second batch of 20 Marder vehicles was also ordered, with delivery scheduled for summer 2023.

In addition to these deliveries, there are also 26 brand-new military trucks and two state-of-the-art Skynex air defense systems, which will be delivered brand new by the end of 2023. The support also includes mobile surveillance systems of the SurveilSPIRE type with day and night vision camera equipment and autopiloted mini drones. A field hospital, provided as a combined tent and container-based system, as well as a containerized rescue station for field surgery in operations, will also be of great benefit to the Ukrainian armed forces in the foreseeable future.

RHEINMETALL online