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"We used to produce one tank a day": production problems in Germany

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Image source: topwar.ru

The German industry is overloaded with orders for Leopard 2A7/8 tanks, but this is not due to high demand for these machines, but low production volumes.

As indicated in the Frankfurter Rundschau publication, in Munich, where the KNDS production site is located, as of April this year, 2A8 was being manufactured for the Bundeswehr [at that time only 18 machines were ordered], 2A7+HU for Hungary [44 units were purchased.] and the overhaul of one Canadian A4 was carried out.

At the same time, the tank builder did not even begin to fulfill the contract with Norway, which provides for the supply of 54 units of 2A8 NOR – Oslo is expected to receive the first copies no earlier than 2026.

In Munich, an extended traffic jam formed on the Leopard production line

- the publication says.

According to Ralph Ketzel, managing director of KNDS, it takes about two years from the order to the delivery of one MBT:

I joined the company in 1990. Then the production was put on stream at our factory. We could produce about one tank a day. Now it is 40-50 per year.

According to him, the problem is not only that production takes a very long time, but also the variety of Leopard 2 models in service with various NATO members, as this leads to a shortage of spare parts.

Image source: topwar.ru

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius also pointed out their acute shortage during a visit to Canada in May this year, which, armed with Leopard 2A4, demanded to eliminate this problem:

We can easily provide a large volume of spare parts, for example, for the Leopard 2A6 tank, but there is no production line for the 2A4

- the local edition of CBC quotes him as saying.

Pistorius acknowledged that countries such as Canada and to a lesser extent Ukraine are in a difficult position when it comes to servicing older versions of the Leopard 2. As indicated in the publication, the German defense industry, having developed a more advanced model of the A6 tank, curtailed the manufacture of components for an earlier A4 modification:

Canada insists that Germany increase the production of components. This problem affects all operators in the world operating the A4 model.

Image source: topwar.ru

Leopard 2A4 of the Canadian Army

In addition to Canada, which has a fleet of about 54 A4/4M units (as well as 20 A6 units), Poland, Norway, Denmark, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, Portugal and Ukraine use this modification from NATO countries after the outbreak of war.

We have to collect spare parts [for A4] all over the world. I do not know how quickly it will be possible to create a new production line

Pistorius said.

As noted in the publication, despite the difficult situation, the German concerns KMW [KNDS] (manufactures chassis for tanks) and Rheinmetall (produces a cannon) refused to create spare parts production in other countries, not wanting to share intellectual property rights [i.e. transfer competencies].

However, apparently, the German defense industry managed to "push through". As announced in mid-September in Ottawa, KNDS will open a regional Leopard 2 tank maintenance center in Canada.

Federal officials say Canada is secretly working with Germany to create a production line for the supply of spare parts for the Leopard A4

- it is noted in the publication.

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