“The Telegraph” reminds that in 2023 the Germans donated Ukraine 18 Leopard tanks 2.
This happened after months of delays from the German authorities and the national debate, or should provide Ukraine with a heavy weapon. KAnclerz Olaf Scholz He finally agreed when the US announced the sending to the front American Abrams tanks.
Problems with Leopards 2 in Ukraine. “There are too few of them”
However, the sources to which the media reached shows that Leopard tanks They are limited to the war in Ukraine. This is the case, among others due to the changing nature of the conflict.
According to Ukrainian military Leopardy 2 – Like other tanks – They are susceptible to drone attacks. However, a complicated construction German machine It makes it difficult to repair it on the battlefield. This means that Damaged tanks They must be sent to mechanics in west of Ukraine or to Poland.
“The main problem with the Leopards 2 handed over to Ukraine is that there are too few of them. If one or two require repair, a large part of what Ukraine has, is suddenly excluded from use for some time,” he said in an interview with “The Telegraph”
Sergy Sumlenny. The managing director at the European Resilience Initiative Center visits the front line every month.
“Leopardy 2 was also not designed for the Ukrainian battlefield. They work well when they have good air support, but Ukraine is missing,” he added.
War in Ukraine. Too complicated Leopard systems
According to him, the tanks were “designed by Generation of German producerswho did not experience the war, so they tends to complicate the system. “
“Older systems, designed in the 1960s by those who actually saw the war, are much more useful on the battlefield, But they have a weaker armor, “he explained.
The German defense spokesman, Sara Nanni, emphasizes that an important lesson for Germany is that the country needs more available systems. “We can't think in such small quantities anymore. We must assume that vehicles have a long downtime after damage and you just have to serve them” – she added.