Germany bolsters Ukraine's defense with more tanks and ammo

German authorities have proudly announced their substantial military support to Ukraine. The latest update published on the government website includes 21,000 rounds for Gepard self-propelled guns and eight critical Leopard 1A5 tanks. This means that Berlin has now supplied 58 Leopards to the front.

Germany is one of the most significant contributors in Europe regarding the value of equipment provided as part of military aid to Ukraine. The German daily "Bild" sources claim that Berlin provided aid worth 7.1 billion euros in 2024. Among the deliveries from Berlin are the highly sought-after Skynex air defense systems, Marder infantry fighting vehicles, and some of the most crucial tools for countering all aerial threats, namely Patriot systems.

The list of equipment supplied to the Ukrainians continues to grow, with the latest update of German support dated Monday, 29 July. It includes numerous rounds for Gepard self-propelled guns (21,000 units), two armored recovery vehicles, Bergepanzer 2 with spare parts, and a range of smaller tools, including 10 surveillance radars, nearly 25,000 combat helmets, and a field hospital.

Germany also reports that new tanks have recently reached the front for the Ukrainians. This concerns eight units of Leopard 1A5. Thus, the total support of such machines has increased to 58 units.

Let us recall that the Ukrainians have been receiving Leopard 1A5 tanks from Germany for many months. Although the condition of most of these machines is undisputed, in 2023, the German media reported that Kyiv refused to accept a batch of 10 tanks due to urgent repairs being needed.

Although the Leopard 1 dates from the 1960s, the A5 variant, with which Germany supports Ukraine, is a much newer design from the 1980s. The manufacturer has equipped this tank with a series of modifications that make the Leopard 1A5 capable of challenging more modern units on the battlefield.

Journalist Przemysław Juraszek explained that the most significant change in the A5 variant compared to its predecessor, the A4, is the presence of the EMES 18 fire control system. Thanks to this, the crew of the Leopard 1A5 has a thermal imaging sight for the gunner and a ballistic computer, allowing precise firing toward the enemy.

These machines sent from Berlin to Kyiv are offensively capable thanks to a 105 mm rifled gun adapted to firing modern APFSDS-T ammunition. This gun, in turn, is sufficient to penetrate the frontal armor of Soviet-era T-72 tanks and their upgrades.