15 Leopard 1A4s, Ammunition, Spares and Training

Under the German government’s ‘Ringtausch’ cascade exchange programme, on 15 November Rheinmetall contractually agreed to transfer 15 Leopard 2A4s and other military hardware to the Slovak Republic, which will in turn transfer military equipment to Ukraine. The first Leopard will be shipped next month, with delivery of the entire package completed by the end of 2023.

The arrangement includes ammunition, spare parts and a training package. Work on the vehicles has already begun. The property of Rheinmetall, the vehicles now being made available are overhauled Leopard 2A4 MBTs, formerly in the inventories of various user states. Under the ‘Ringtausch’ agreement between Germany and its neighbours, NATO member states are providing Ukraine with Soviet-era heavy equipment in exchange for readily-available Western military systems.