Leopard-1 tanks during an exercise in Saxony-Anhalt in 2000
Image: Picture Alliance
With the proposal to deliver decommissioned Leopard 1 to the Ukraine, Rheinmetall offends. But how difficult it is with alternatives can also be seen in the 100 billion package for the Bundeswehr.
uThe CEO of Rheinmetall, Armin Papperger, is not at a loss for nimble advances. Shortly after Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock spoke out in favor of supporting Ukraine with heavy weapons, Papperger immediately offered to supply 50 used Leopard 1 main battle tanks on Monday. They could be ready for use in six weeks if the federal government agrees. However, these are old tanks that have been returned to Rheinmetall and need to be overhauled.
Some politicians were correspondingly hesitant about the proposals on Tuesday, although the realization that Ukraine needs more heavy military equipment has prevailed across the parties. “We shouldn’t let ourselves be harnessed to the carts of industry, which now wants to sell some material that has long been written off in the yard,” said Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, the chairwoman of the Defense Committee, of the “Welt”. . It is important to examine what really helps Ukraine.