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Rheinmetall has been contracted by the German government to deliver an additional 20 Marder infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) to Ukraine, with delivery scheduled this year.
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The global defence prime received the contract in March which is valued in the mid double-digit million-euro range.
To date, the company has delivered “over a three-digit number of Marder IFVs to the Ukrainian Armed Forces”.
The company acquired the 1A3 Marder IFV from the Bundeswehr in 2022 at its own expense to overhaul the capability before delivering them to Ukraine.
The Marder IFV has been replaced by the Puma in the Bundeswehr, where it operates 300 units.
According to the contractor in 2023, the delivery of Marders to Ukraine is part of a larger modernisation program for NATO partners.
“Under the German government’s ‘Ringtausch’ program, Greece will also be receiving 40 Marder IFVs. These, too, are to be shipped this summer. The ‘Ringtausch’ is a multilateral equipment exchange program designed to support Ukraine’s war effort in the face of Russian aggression,” a Rheinmetall spokesperson confirmed.
“In cooperation with Germany’s European neighbours and NATO partners, Soviet-era heavy equipment is being transferred to Ukraine in exchange for surplus Western-made systems.
“Rheinmetall is taking part in various ‘Ringtausch’ exchanges involving the armed forces of Greece, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Slovenia.”
The announcement came as the Australian government signed a production contract with Rheinmetall Defence Australia, delivering on its commitments to the defence export agreement with Germany it signed in March.
Australia and Germany last month signed a bilateral agreement worth over $1 billion to the Australian economy, in which over 100 Australian-made Boxer Heavy Weapon Carrier vehicles will be exported to Germany.
These vehicles are to be built at the Redbank, Queensland-based Rheinmetall Defence Australia Vehicle Centre of Excellence, creating over 600 jobs for the state and provide the defence supply chain a number of economic opportunities.
“This contract will supply our security partner, Germany, with one of the most advanced armoured vehicles in the world, and supports Australia’s world-class defence industry, not only here in Queensland, but throughout the national supply chain,” Major General Jason Blain, head of land systems division, said.
