Deliveries to be Completed in 2023
As reported by André Forkert on 1 November, Rheinmetall has begun supplying Marder IFVs to Greece under the ‘Ringtausch’ cascade programme. The Hellenic Armed Forces, for their part, are supplying Soviet-era IFVs and other military equipment to Ukraine, receiving refurbished Marder 1A3 IFVs in exchange. Ammunition, an integrated service package including training services and a spare parts package will also be provided by the Bundeswehr and Rheinmetall. Deliveries should be completed by the end of 2023.
The vehicles provided are overhauled Marder 1A3 from former Bundeswehr stocks, repaired by Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH at company expense since spring this year, to ensure their immediate availability. The Marder, developed for the German armed forces and still in use, is one of the most proven weapon systems of its kind in the world. The vehicle has been modernised several times in the course of its use and its combat value increased.
This ‘backfill’ activity is a procedure developed by the German government to support Ukraine in its efforts against the Russian invasion in cooperation with its European neighbours and NATO partners. NATO partners hand over equipment from former Soviet production to the Ukraine and receive available systems from Western production in return. Rheinmetall is already involved in ring exchanges with the Czech Armed Forces as well as with the Slovak Armed Forces, here with Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks.
