Heavy weapons for Ukraine
Bund will soon deliver seven self-propelled howitzers
5/5/2022 1:14 am
Germany is apparently pushing ahead with the delivery of heavy military equipment to Ukraine. According to a report, in addition to the transport of Gepard anti-aircraft tanks, the shipment of Panzerhaubitzen 2000 is also planned. However, these are not yet ready for use.
The federal government plans to deliver seven self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine. According to information from government circles, the howitzers are currently being repaired and should be intact by the end of June, the “Bild” reported. Meanwhile, according to the newspaper, the exchange of rings with Slovenia has been delayed. The Slovenes were supposed to deliver T-72 main battle tanks to Kyiv in return for German Marder infantry fighting vehicles and Fuchs armored personnel carriers. But Slovenia’s government apparently insists on the delivery of more modern tanks.
Although the Bundeswehr has around 100 Panzerhaubitze 2000 weapon systems on paper, only 40 of these are operational. These are heavy artillery pieces that can fire 40 kilometers. With the delivery of the seven repair howitzers, the delivery to the Ukraine would at least not increase the gap in the Bundeswehr.
The Ambassador of Ukraine, Andriy Melnyk, told the newspaper: “We appeal to the federal government to hand over a significant part of the available weapon systems from the Bundeswehr stocks to Ukraine as quickly as possible.”
Last week, the federal government approved the export of heavy weapons directly from Germany for the first time: 50 Gepard anti-aircraft tanks. According to information from Ukrainian government circles, a total of 2,500 anti-aircraft missiles, 900 rocket-propelled grenades with 3,000 rounds of ammunition, 100 machine guns and 15 bunker-launchers with 50 rockets had arrived in Ukraine from Germany by April 21. In addition, there are 100,000 hand grenades, 2,000 mines, around 5,300 explosive charges and more than 16 million rounds of ammunition of various calibers for small arms, from assault rifles to heavy machine guns.