Germany Delivers Amphibious BIBER Tanks To Ukraine

Ukraine's collection of Western weapons is set to expand again as Germany is planning to deliver amphibious tanks to Ukrainian troops who are continuing to defend the country from Russia's invasion, Katherine Fung reported for Newsweek.

Photo Insert: BIBER tanks are armored bridge-laying machines that can be used to help Ukrainian forces cross ravines, ditches, or other terrain obstacles that may be up to 20 meters wide.

On Friday, Germany's Federal Minister of Defense Christine Lambrecht announced the decision to deliver a package of 16 BIBER tanks to Ukraine, with the first shipment of six vehicles to begin in the fall.

The other 10 will follow in 2023. "With the BIBER, the Ukrainian troops can overcome water or obstacles in battle," the defense ministry said in its statement.

"The overall package includes sixteen armored bridge-laying vehicles as well as transport, repair and training."

The package is the latest round of military aid from one of Ukraine's Western allies. Last week, the White House announced that the US would send four more HIMARS missile systems—bringing Ukraine's HIMARS count to 16—as part of its latest round of security assistance to the country.

BIBER tanks are armored bridge-laying machines that can be used to help Ukrainian forces cross ravines, ditches, or other terrain obstacles that may be up to 20 meters wide.

Recently, Germany also agreed to transfer three MARS II rocket systems, 10 tank howitzers, and five anti-aircraft tanks to Ukraine. Der Spiegel also reported this week that the nation has approved the request from defense company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann to produce an additional 100 tank howitzers, worth 1.7 billion euros, for Ukrainian troops.

The Panzerhaubitze 2000 model howitzers would take several years to complete, and it is unclear when the first package of weapons would be delivered. Ukraine's growing arsenal comes amid pleas from the Eastern European country for the West to send more artillery as the war continues into its fifth month.

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