The German Armed Forces have extended to about 4 billion euros a contract with arms manufacturer Rheinmetall to make ammunition for Leopard 2 tanks, it is expected that some of this ammunition will be supplied to Ukraine, according to the Rheinmetall Group’s website.
“The Bundeswehr has extended the existing framework contract with Rheinmetall for the supply of tank ammunition worth around 4 billion euros…. The order expresses the armed forces’ desire to close the resulting stockpile gaps and increase the overall ammunition supply in view of the security situation. The framework agreement also provides for the delivery of a significant amount of tank ammunition for the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” the statement said.
It is also noted that “by the end of 2030 under the concluded framework agreement may be purchased several hundred thousand combat and training ammunition of various designs of 120 mm x 570 caliber, similar to those fired by the main gun of the Leopard-2 main battle tank.”
According to the company, the first delivery of ammunition worth about 309 million euros took place immediately after the contract was signed.
It is emphasized that for many countries that use the Leopard battle tank with 120mm smoothbore gun, Rheinmetall is the main supplier of ammunition of this caliber.
Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand announced Thursday that Ottawa will deliver four Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.
“Defense Minister Anita Anand said Canada will transfer four German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine in the coming weeks,” the Toronto Star reports.
Canada will transfer spare parts and ammunition along with the equipment, as well as train the Ukrainian military in the use of the tanks. The paper said that Anand allowed for the possibility of additional deliveries of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.
Canada has a total of 112 tanks of this model.
The German authorities decided the previous day to transfer the first batch of 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. Berlin will also give its allies permission to deliver Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. In addition, on Wednesday, US President Joe Biden announced his decision to send Ukraine 31 M1 Abrams tanks.
