[ad_1]
Modernizing older tanks is always faster than making new ones. However, it still takes lots of time, as the example involving Leopard 2A4s shows.
Leopard 2 tank from the Norwegian Army – illustrative photo. Image credit: Armed Forces of Norway
German defense company Rheinmetall yesterday announced that it will upgrade 14 Leopard 2A4s purchased from the current user countries and will supply them to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
According to the press release issued by the developer, these machines will be acquired from Denmark and the Netherlands – these countries will also participate in the financing of this initiative.
The duration of Rheinmetall’s restoration project for 14 Leopard 2 tanks destined for the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been disclosed.
The initial announcement regarding these 14 tanks was made back in April, but the estimated timeframe has been extended beyond what was originally stated. A preliminary plan is to deliver the first unit at the beginning of 2024. The remaining tanks will be renewed and delivered throughout 2024.
Leopard 2A7 main battle tank. Image credit: Fric.matej via Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
This also means that on average, one machine per month will be prepared for delivery to Ukraine
The contract value for the restoration of these 14 tanks is “less than the three-digit range in millions of euros,” indicating tens of millions of euros.
Due to the ambiguity surrounding the total contract value, it is impossible to determine the exact price for each refurbished Leopard 2A4. If we consider the upper end of the “tens of millions” range, it would amount to approximately 5-7 million euros per tank.
This cost can be compared to that of a brand-new Leopard 2A8, priced at around 30 million euros ($32 million), with the delivery of the ordered 18 units to the Bundeswehr scheduled for completion by 2026. This means that upgrading older vehicles can be done around three times faster, while the cost is just about a quarter compared to the production of a completely new vehicle.
Of course, Leopard 2A8 is much more capable than its older cousin 2A4. However, considering Ukraine’s pressing need for additional battle tanks, retrofitting A4s is a much better choice.
Rheinmetall will also provide Ukraine with 26 new military trucks and two advanced air defense systems before the end of 2023.
In addition, the new German military support package includes SurveilSPIRE mobile reconnaissance systems equipped with cameras capable of operating in both daylight and night conditions, along with autopiloted mini-drones.
The company is also supplying Ukraine with a field hospital system comprising containers and tents, as well as a modular mobile surgical station for immediate trauma care. These resources will play a crucial role in supporting the Ukrainian military in the upcoming months.
Written by Alius Noreika
[ad_2]
Source link