1 of 8 Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki attend the official transfer of Polish Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine on February 24, 2023 — Photo: Krystian Maj/Government of Poland/ Handout via Portal Denys Shmyhal and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki attend the official transfer of Polish Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine on February 24, 2023. Disclosure via Portal
For a year now Ukraine has been trying to defend itself against the invasion of its territory by Russia with all available means. Moscow’s plan to quickly dominate the neighboring country did not go as expected, and over the months the Ukrainians managed to regain large areas lost to the invaders.
Now Kiev hopes to push the front further east and drive the Russians out once and for all, and the West’s main military forces have helped with funding, equipment and training.
With the success of Ukrainian forces in partially repelling the invasion, pressure mounted on the US and European powers to surrender more arms.
After several months of negotiations, key NATO members agreed to continue helping Ukraine. Starting with Germany, the US and the UK, several countries have decided to send more military equipment to Kiev. The movement lasted due to internal political problems in the countries.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats feared the deployment could escalate Russian aggression and increase the risk of NATO interference in the conflict.
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Another factor that contributed to the delay is that the Leopard tanks, the tank model that is being donated in larger numbers to the Ukrainians, are manufactured in Germany and require a permit from Germany to reexport the vehicles to other countries is to Ukraine. .
Find out a little more about the main weapons shipped to Kiev between March and April below:
GLSDB (Small Diameter Ground Launched Bombs)
2 of 8 Infographic shows details of GLSDB missile to be delivered from US to Ukraine — Photo: Arte/g1 Infographic shows details of GLSDB missile to be delivered from US to Ukraine — Photo: Arte/g1
One of the main weapons for this new phase of the Ukrainian offensive are the GLSDB missiles. These projectiles are shipped from the USA and can be fired from any location. They are guided by satellites and have the power to penetrate shields.
The Ukrainian weapon with the longest range today is the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS). Its missiles can travel 77 kilometers while the GLSDB’s range is 151.
A longer range would allow the Ukrainian military to attack Russian forces from a greater distance or potentially penetrate deeper into Russiancontrolled territory.
Due to their range of up to 151 km, they can reach all of Russia’s supply lines in eastern Ukraine as well as part of the Crimean Peninsula, also annexed by Moscow in 2014.
GLSDBs are manufactured by the Swedish company SAAB AB SAABb.ST in cooperation with Boeing. The first test was conducted in 2015.
The US has not confirmed how many GLSDB units will be sent to Kiev.
Leopard 1
3 of 8 Infographic shows details of Leopard 1 A5 main battle tank to be sent to Ukraine — Photo: Arte/g1 Infographic shows details of Leopard 1 A5 main battle tank to be sent to Ukraine — Photo: Arte/g1
Manufactured in Germany from the mid1960s to the mid1980s, the Leopard 1A5 was the main battle tank of the West German armed forces. They have not been used since 2003, said the spokesman for the Federal Ministry of Defense, Arne Collatz.
With a speed of up to 65 km/h on the open road, the Leopard 1 can cover a distance of up to 550 km without refuelling, which can help in conquering land areas.
The arrival date for the arms shipment has not yet been announced, but it is expected that the armored vehicles may be a key factor in Kiev’s success in retaking Russiandominated areas.
Germany is expected to send around 30 of these vehicles to Ukraine. Norway has also offered to send tanks of this type, but has not disclosed any quantities.
leopard 2
4 of 8 Infographic shows details of Leopard 2 A6 main battle tank to be sent to Ukraine — Photo: Arte/g1 Infographic shows details of Leopard 2 A6 main battle tank to be sent to Ukraine — Photo: Arte/g1
Produced by KraussMaffei, the Leopard 2 is larger and heavier than its predecessor. It is commonly purchased by several NATO countries. The Leopard 2 A6 is considered “the most important main battle tank in the world”, weighs 62 tons and can reach speeds of up to 70 km/h.
For nearly half a century, the Leopard has combined aspects of firepower, protection, speed, and maneuverability, making it adaptable to many types of combat.
Its primary weapon is a 120mm smoothbore gun and it features a fully digital fire control system.
Germany, Spain, Finland and Poland have announced that they will send weapons of this model to Kiev. At least 40 are expected to arrive between March and April.
M1 Abrams
5 of 8 Infographic shows details of M1 Abrams main battle tank being sent to Ukraine — Photo: Arte/g1 Infographic shows details of M1 Abrams main battle tank being sent to Ukraine — Photo: Arte/g1
One of the best and most improved American tanks, the M1 Abrams can also reach 70 km/h and, unlike most tanks, has two machine guns in addition to the main gun. One of them is 50 caliber, meaning it shoots slower but with more lethality.
It is considered to be very technologically advanced and its use in Kiev has been considered a number of times as it would take the Ukrainian military to fly it.
Despite this, it is assumed that in a few months these armored vehicles can be used to 100%.
Trina and one of these tanks are sent to Ukraine by the US.
challenger 2
6 of 8 Infographic shows details of Challenger 2 main battle tank to be sent to Ukraine — Photo: Arte/g1 Infographic shows details of Challenger 2 main battle tank to be sent to Ukraine — Photo: Arte/g1
An old member of the British Armed Forces, the Challenger 2 does not reach high speeds, only 60 km/h, but makes up for this with its size.
Vickers Defense Systems, its manufacturer, guarantees that it is the most reliable tank in the world.
The model was commissioned by the British in 1991 and saw combat in 2003 during the invasion of Iraq.
7 of 8 British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace poses with Ukrainian soldiers during a visit to the British Army base where they train on Challenger 2 tanks — Photo: Ben Birchall/Pool via AP British Defense Secretary British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace poses with Ukrainians Soldiers during a visit to the British Army base where they train on Challenger 2 tanks — Photo: Ben Birchall/Pool via AP
Fourteen tanks of this model will be shipped to Ukraine from Great Britain.
What can that change in war?
Yohann Michel, research analyst in military and defense affairs at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, says these tanks could allow Ukraine to go on the offensive in a conflict that has virtually stalled for months after two major Ukrainian counteroffensives occupied areas had been recaptured by Russian forces for months in the northeast and south.
“In this type of conflict, it’s simply not possible to conduct largescale offensives without the full range of armored combat gear, and tanks are one of them,” he said. In addition to main battle tanks or MBTs like the Leopard 2, infantry fighting vehicles are also important.
Deliveries of Leopard 2s could help provide Ukraine with the highcaliber ammunition needed to replace its own Sovietera stockpiles and open a new avenue for a steady supply of Western firepower, he explains.
8 of 8 Leopard 2 battle tanks during training in Munster on September 25, 2023 — Photo: Philipp Schulze/dpa via AP Leopard 2 battle tanks during training in Munster on September 25, 2023 — Photo : Philipp Schulze/ dpa via AP
Ralf Raths, director of the tank museum in Munster, notes that the Leopard 2 and similar Western tanks are more maneuverable than the “Tmodels” used by Russia, which, for example, cannot quickly change direction.
“Imagine a boxer who can’t move freely in the ring, only in one direction,” he said. “The other boxer who can move in all directions has a huge advantage and that’s the case with the Leopards.”
Niklas Masuhr, a researcher at the Center for Security Studies at the Swiss Federal Polytechnic University, warned that adding leopards to the battlefield in and of itself “wouldn’t be a gamechanger or a warwinning technology, none of that.”
“You can’t just throw in a bunch of main battle tanks and assume they’re going to win,” he said. “They’re very valuable, but you still have to use them properly and integrate them with all the other military tools you have at your disposal,” like infantry, artillery, air defense, combat engineers, and helicopters.