With money from the federal government, Rheinmetall is buying Leopard 1 tanks from Belgium, which are to be delivered to Ukraine. But first they have to be repaired.
The armaments group Rheinmetall is preparing another export of Leopard main battle tanks to Ukraine. According to the agreement, around 30 tanks of the older Leopard 1 type will be delivered, said a company spokesman in Düsseldorf. The “Handelsblatt” and other media had previously reported.
The tanks come from Belgium, where the company OIP Land Systems had the old tanks in stock and sold around 50 to Rheinmetall. However, some of the vehicles were in such poor condition that some could only be used as a treasure trove for components – this reduced the number of tanks that could be delivered to around 30.
OIP Land Systems CEO Freddy Versluys told UK newspaper The Guardian that he had sold 49 tanks to another European government, which he could not name due to a confidentiality clause. He couldn’t reveal the price either. Versluys added that it could take up to six months for them to be on the battlefield in Ukraine. The Rheinmetall spokesman, in turn, did not want to comment on the schedule.
The weapon manufacturer is paid for by the federal government, which wants to support Ukraine with it. The Leopard 1 is the forerunner of the Leopard 2 currently used by the Bundeswehr.
Source: Stern
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