Germany federal government wants to enable tank delivery

According to media reports, the federal government wants to allow tank deliveries to Ukraine. The armaments group Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) is said to be allowed to sell “Gepard” anti-aircraft tanks from previous Bundeswehr stocks.

According to information from the dpa news agency and the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, the federal government wants to allow tanks from industry stocks to be delivered to Ukraine. The armaments manufacturer Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) is to be given the green light to be able to sell technically refurbished “Gepard” anti-aircraft tanks from previous Bundeswehr stocks. Based on this information, a corresponding decision was made in principle.

Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) has a medium two-digit number of these tanks from the disbanded army air defense of the Bundeswehr. The “cheetah” can also be used in the fight against ground targets. Combating flying targets in conjunction with other forces, on the other hand, is considered to be technically much more demanding.

Meeting on the Ukraine war in Ramstein

The information about the arms delivery became known before the speech by Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) at the US Ramstein Air Force Base in Rhineland-Palatinate. At the invitation of the USA, representatives of numerous countries wanted to discuss the Ukraine war there. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin invited representatives from around 40 countries to the conference at the largest US airbase outside the United States.

So far only plans for ring exchange known

Chancellor Olaf Scholz had announced a “turning point” in the financing of the military. For this purpose, a special fund of 100 billion euros is to be made available for the Bundeswehr. In a ring exchange with partners from Eastern Europe, Ukraine is to receive weapon systems that are already in use there.

Germany also wants to support the Netherlands and the USA in training Ukrainian soldiers on artillery systems. There are plans for closer cooperation following the announcement by the Netherlands that they want to supply the Panzerhaubitze 2000 weapon system.