MARS II MLRS. Germany handed over three rocket launchers to Ukraine

Germany supplied another batch of heavy weapons to Ukraine.

This time it regards MARS II multiple launch rocket systems.

This was stated by the Minister of Defense of Germany, Christine Lambrecht.

“The promised Mars II multiple launch rocket systems and three more Panzerhaubitze 2000s have been delivered. We keep our word,” she said, according to Welt media.

Christine Lambrecht added that three MARS II MLRS and a total of 10 PZH-2000 self-propelled guns were sent to Ukraine from Bundeswehr storages.

She also announced the delivery of five Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns. She emphasized that in total Ukraine will receive 30 such guns with the promised 60,000 ammunition.

The day before, the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Oleksii Reznikov, announced that three Gepard anti-aircraft guns are already at the disposal of the Ukrainian military.

In addition, Lambrecht noted that German companies will supply Ukraine with a Cobra counter-battery radar already in the fall.

“The deal has already been signed, and now the training of the Ukrainian servicemen on this extremely complex system will begin. This will allow our artillery systems to work even faster and more accurately,” she added.

She also stressed that the training of Ukrainian military on the Iris-T SLM air defense system will start in a few days.

She added that the factory version of the weapons could be delivered to Ukraine in the fall.

MARS II MLRS

Mars II MLRS (Mittlere Artillerie Raketen System) is a German multiple rocket launcher adopted by the Bundeswehr in 1990.

This launcher is basically a licensed copy of the American M270 MLRS with minor modifications.

The artillery unit of Mars II consists of two disposable units, each of which houses six transport and launch containers with 227-mm or 237-mm caliber rocket-propelled ammunition. Targets can be hit at a maximum range of 45,000 – 70,000 m, depending on the ammunition.

Mars II is designed to destroy clusters of enemy manpower and equipment, artillery batteries, air defenses, command posts, and communications, as well as to set up minefields through remote mining.