Rheinmetall, the manufacturer of Marder infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), announced on Monday that Germany would be supplying Ukraine with an additional 40 Marder IFVs.
According to Rheinmetall’s statement, the German government commissioned the company to provide these 40 Marder IFVs to Ukraine. The order, placed in August 2023, is valued at a high double-digit million-euro amount. Rheinmetall is actively working on overhauling these older vehicles to ensure that the latest batch of Marder IFVs can be delivered according to the contract, with deliveries set to commence this year.
With this new shipment, the total number of Marder vehicles supplied to Ukraine will reach 80.
In March 2023, Rheinmetall had already shipped the first twenty infantry fighting vehicles ordered by the German government for Ukraine. Furthermore, an additional twenty Rheinmetall IFVs were ordered in June 2023, and these are currently undergoing refurbishment and will be delivered in due course.
The vehicles being made available to Ukraine are overhauled Marder 1A3 systems that were previously in service with the Bundeswehr. As early as spring 2022, Rheinmetall began the process of restoring these infantry fighting vehicles to a state of immediate combat readiness at its own expense.
The Marder IFV is highly regarded for its combination of excellent tactical mobility and formidable firepower, along with its capacity to transport troops quickly and securely in high-threat operational areas. It features a proven design with a forward powerpack, a centrally positioned turret, and a rear fighting compartment equipped with a generously dimensioned ramp for rapid troop entry and exit. Maintenance is simplified, and the Marder is specifically designed for ease of use and maximum reliability.
This move by Germany to supply Ukraine with additional Marder IFVs underscores the ongoing support for Ukraine’s defense capabilities in the face of geopolitical challenges.