The German newspaper Handelsblatt reported that Armin Papperger, chairman of the German Rheinmetall AG group, announced negotiations with Kiev regarding the possibility of supplying Ukraine with new Panther KF51 tanks. Thus, Ukraine can become the starting customer of this tank, first introduced by the Rheinmetall group in 2022 and equipped with a promising 130 mm cannon.
Image of Rheinmetall KF51 Panther Tank (with) RheinmetallAccording to Armin Papperger's statements, Ukraine is interested in purchasing not only Panther KF51 tanks, but also Lynx KF41 infantry fighting vehicles.
In the case of a contract for Panther KF51 tanks, their delivery to Ukraine can be started within 15-18 months, from a production line in Germany or Hungary [in the latter case, apparently, we are talking about a Rheinmetall joint venture under construction in Hungary in the city of Zalaegerseg, where it is initially planned to organize the production of Lynx BMP. - bmpd]. Rheinmetall is also considering the possibility of organizing the assembly of Panther tanks in Ukraine.
From the bmpd side, we point out that, apparently, the possible supply of Panther tanks to Ukraine is being worked out with the expectation of full funding from the German government, as has already been done with respect to the contracts already signed by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) for the supply of 155-mm self-propelled howitzers PzH 2000 and RCH-155 of new production to Ukraine. For the German government, in principle, this form of military assistance is very profitable, providing in fact subsidizing the launch of new models of weapons into mass production by German manufacturers, which subsequently creates prospects for their further export supplies to other countries already on a commercial basis, or purchases by the Bundeswehr.
Chairman of the German Rheinmetall AG Armin Papperger against the background of a prototype Rheinmetall KF51 Panther (c) DPA tank
