On January 25, 2023, the German government officially announced its decision to supply Ukraine with 14 Leopard 2A6 main tanks (company kit) from the German army, as well as permission to transfer German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine to third countries.
Leopard 2A6 tanks from the 363rd Tank Battalion of the 7th Tank Brigade of the 10th Panzer Division of the German Army. Hardheim, 03.09.2020 (c) BundeswehrIn addition to training Ukrainian crews by the Bundeswehr, the tank transfer package also includes logistics, ammunition and system maintenance.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that the first tanks from Germany should be in Ukraine in three months, and that the training of Ukrainian crews in Germany should begin "in the near future." "Of course, this is an intervention in the reserves of troops, but it will not affect the operational readiness of the Bundeswehr," Pistorius assured.
As previously reported by the German media, referring to the closed data of the German Ministry of Defense, on May 22, 2022, the German Bundeswehr had 312 tanks of the Leopard 2 family, including 212 in service, 99 under repair or modernization in the Leopard 2A7V variant, and one was subject to write-off. It was reported that out of 312 tanks, 19 belong to the Leopard 2A5 modification and 53 to the most modern Leopard 2A7V modification. Presumably, the remaining tanks included 154 Leopard 2A6, 50 Leopard 2A6M2, 16 Leopard 2A6NL and 20 Leopard 2A7.
It was also reported that the German Ministry of Defense recommended, first of all, 19 Leopard 2A5 tanks for transfer to Ukraine, which are all now used to designate enemy forces at the Bundeswehr training center in Lenzlingen. However, in the end, it was decided to transfer, first of all, 14 more modern Leopard 2A6, although it can be assumed that the remaining Leopard 2A5 will also be fused to Ukraine in the future.
Also, the German government is still considering the possibility of supplying Ukraine with decommissioned Leopard 2 and Leopard 1 tanks, which are in storage with industrialists. It is reported that on January 24, a representative of the Rheinmetall group said that this group could theoretically supply 51 Leopard 2 tanks (Leopard 2A4) and 88 Leopard 1 tanks (Leopard 1A5) to Ukraine. Of these, 22 Leopard 2 tanks are in storage at Rheinmetall and can be delivered after repair only in late 2023 - early 2024. Another 29 Leopard 2 tanks are currently being repaired by Rheinmetall under the notorious "Ringtausch" ("Ring Exchange") program and may be ready for delivery as early as April-May 2023 - as you can understand, these are tanks intended for transfer to the Czech Republic and Slovakia, although it is unclear whether these countries will abandon these machines in favor of Ukraine. As for the possibility of repairing the Leopard 1A5 88 tanks stored at Rheinmetall, its timing, according to the representative of the group, is still difficult to determine due to many factors. On January 25, German Defense Minister Pistorius said that an additional study is currently being conducted on the possibility of supplying these Leopard 1 tanks to Ukraine, and a report on this issue will be made in the near future.
Germany's transfer of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine is carried out within the framework of the so-called international "coalition" for the supply of these tanks, created at the meeting of the Contact Group for Military Support of Ukraine in Ramstein on January 20, twelve countries took part in this "coalition", which agreed to supply Ukraine with about 100 Leopard 2 tanks if the German government gives its consent to their delivery.
On January 25, German Defense Minister Pistorius said that within the framework of this partnership, "it is necessary for Ukraine to quickly assemble two tank battalions with Leopard 2 tanks." At the first stage, according to Pistorius, a battalion set "with the newest Leopard 2 tanks [apparently, various variants of Leopard 2A6] that can be deployed quickly" should be transferred, and at the second stage - another battalion with Leopard 2A4 tanks, "which will take a little more time."
Pistorius said that urgent negotiations on the supply of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine are currently underway with representatives of Poland and six other countries, including Canada, Spain and Portugal.
According to known data, by now the following countries have agreed to allocate the following numbers of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine:
Germany - allocates 14 Leopard 2A6 tanks.
Poland - allocates 14 tanks (probably in the Leopard 2A4 modification). Poland now has 105 Leopard 2A5 tanks, 102 Leopard 2A4 and 45 of the latest, upgraded to the Leopard 2PL level.
Spain - presumably, 12 Leopard 2A4 tanks have been allocated, with general plans to transfer all 53 Leopard 2A4 in storage. Spain currently has 219 Leopard 2E and 108 Leopard 2A4 tanks (53 of the latter are in storage).
Netherlands - plans to buy and transfer to Ukraine all 18 of its former Leopard 2A6NL tanks, currently leased from Germany.
Portugal - allocates four Leopard 2A6RO tanks, out of 37 cash.
Norway - allocates eight Leopard 2A4NO tanks, out of the available 53 (16 of which are in storage).
Also, these 12 countries of the "coalition" apparently include the following countries:
Finland - now has 100 Leopard 2A6NL tanks and up to 127 Leopard 2A4.
Denmark - currently has 44 Leopard 2A7M+DK tanks
Sweden - currently has 120 Leopard 2S tanks (Strv 122, actually a variant of Leopard 2A5).
Canada - currently has 20 Leopard 2A6M CAN tanks, 20 Leopard 2A4M CAN and 42 Leopard 2A4 CAN.
It can be assumed that Greece (which has 170 Leopard 2HEL and 183 Leopard 2A4 tanks) and the Czech Republic and Slovakia, who wish to receive Leopard 2 tanks, are also contracted to the "coalition".
