Rheinmetall Needs German Cash To Fix Leopard Tanks For Ukraine

Rheinmetall, Germany’s leading defense manufacturer, has said it can’t supply main battle tanks (MBTs) to Ukraine before 2024 as it would take some time before the tanks could be refurbished and loaded with improved weapons and technology, The Telegraph reported.

Photo Insert: Rheinmetall has 22 Leopard 2 models and 88 Leopard 1 in stock, for a total of 110.

Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger told the German newspaper Bild that repairing the decommissioned Leopard tanks for battle will take just “under a year.” Rheinmetall has 22 Leopard 2 models and 88 Leopard 1 in stock, for a total of 110.

The company needs a government order to fix the tanks because the “costs are several hundred million euros,” he added.

“This means that even if the decision is made tomorrow that we can send our Leopard tanks to Kyiv, delivery will take until the beginning of next year,” Papperger said.

However, Germany may ramp up the work by adding more engineers and metal workers to its production line as well as harnessing the talents of Poland, Finland and other nations that have Leopard tanks in their arsenals.

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