Rheinmetall ready to supply Panther battle tank to Ukraine

According to the general director of the Rheinmetall concern, the delivery of the new Panther tank to Kyiv can be carried out "in 15-18 months."

One of the largest manufacturers of military equipment in Europe, the German concern Rheinmetall, wants to supply Ukraine with its new Panther battle tank. This was announced by Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger. His words on Thursday, February 9, were quoted by the Handelsblatt newspaper, DW reports.

"We are negotiating with Kiev on the export of Panther," Papperger said. According to him, Kyiv has also shown interest in the German infantry fighting vehicle (BMP) Lynx.

Rheinmetall unveiled the Panther at the 27th International Arms Show Eurosatory 2022 in Paris last summer and called it the most powerful battle tank in the world. Ukraine may become the first buyer of this car.

Rheinmetall CEO considers it possible to deliver in 15-18 months

As Handelsblatt clarifies, so far only a demonstration model of the Panther has existed. Nevertheless, Papperger considers it possible to carry out the delivery "in 15-18 months." Tanks can be made in Germany or Hungary.

For export, the approval of the German government is required, since the Panther was developed in Germany. According to Papperger, an argument in favor of providing it may be the fact that European countries cannot allocate new tanks - in addition to those already sent - from their stocks, due to the fact that "the resource has been exhausted."

Earlier, Rheinmetall announced that the first 20-25 Leopard 1 tanks would be delivered to Ukraine in 2023. By mid-2024, at least three Ukrainian battalions should be equipped with these combat vehicles. The remaining 88 combat vehicles will be handed over to Kyiv by the end of 2024, Papperger said. In addition, Leopard 1 tanks are in storage from another German manufacturer - Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft (FFG).

The Netherlands and Denmark are taking part in deliveries of Leopard 1A5 tanks to Ukraine together with Germany. At the end of January, Berlin decided to transfer 14 Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine from the warehouses of the Bundeswehr.