German defence manufacturer on Sunday said even if Germany agrees to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine, it would take at least the beginning of next year to deliver the armoured vehicles. Following UK's promise to send Challenger tanks, Ukraine was hopeful that more countries would join the bloc to supply it with tanks.
German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall said that it would take at start of 2024 to deliver Leopard tanks. “Even if the decision to send our Leopard tanks to Kyiv came tomorrow, the delivery would take until the start of next year,” Rheinmetall’s chief executive, Armin Papperger was quoted saying by The Guardian. “The vehicles must be completely dismantled and rebuilt,” Papperger was quoted saying.
Ukraine has been demanding the supply of Leopard military tanks to strengthen its defence against Russia. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently said, “there is no rational reason to explain why Western tanks have not yet been supplied to Ukraine." In a recent call with Zelenskyy, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promised to send Challenger tanks to Ukraine.
Earlier, France offered to send AMX-10 RC armoured combat vehicles to Ukraine. Called light tanks in French, the combat vehicle boasts a 105-millimetre cannon and two machine guns.
