7 February, 2023 Leopard 1A5 tank. Photo credits: toysforboys4

Germany is to issue a permit to supply a total of 187 Leopard 1 tanks to Ukraine today – media

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The German federal government is to approve the transfer of a total of 187 Leopard 1 tanks to Ukraine today.

Business Insider reported this.

German defense concern Rheinmetall and Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft (FFG) are to receive the permit.

Under this export license, Rheinmetall will be able to transfer 88 tanks, another 99 will come from FFG.

At the same time, it is noted that Ukraine will be able to receive the first tanks no earlier than the middle of this year.

Leopard 1A5 tank. Photo from open sources

The announced number of Leopard 1 tanks can also be considered conditional, as the exact amount of operation-suitable equipment is not yet confirmed.

Many of these Leopard 1 tanks require repairs. It is not yet clear whether all 187 units will be able to be used on the battlefield, or whether a certain part of the equipment will be released for spare parts to restore other combat vehicles.

At the same time, it is worth adding that the German government previously decided to transfer Leopard 1 tanks to Ukraine from industrial stocks. This was announced on Friday, February 3.

However, according to a German newspaper, the federal government is facing challenges obtaining the necessary 105mm ammunition for these tanks.

Previously, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Rheinmetall stated that the enterprise has 110 Leopard 1 and Leopard 2 tanks in storage. It could take a year to prepare this equipment to be transferred to Ukraine.

As previously reported, Leopard 1 tanks for Ukraine could be purchased from a private Belgian company.