As reported by German and some Ukrainian media Krauss-Maffei Wegmann company offered to sell 100 modern self-propelled 155-mm PzH 2000 howitzers to Ukraine.
The cost of the contract, which also includes staff training and a spare parts package, is 1.7 billion euros. But there is an important drawback. KMW will be able to deliver the first 30 SpGHs to Ukraine… only 30 months after signing the agreement, i.e. not earlier than 2024. Execution of the entire contract will be extended until 2027.
PzH 2000 howitzers are truly high-quality weapons, and there is no doubt that they can be useful to the Armed Forces in 2024… but for a country that is currently fighting for its existence, this proposal looks like outright mockery.
Germany has consistently blocked arms supplies to Ukraine, justifying itself on the grounds of “political expediency.” Recently, Germany refused to sell surplus BMP Marder to Ukraine. Currently, it’s slowing down the issue of transferring the Armed Forces of the decommissioned Leopard 1A5 tanks (about 100 units) and the Gepard anti-aircraft guns (about 50 units). At the same time, German companies are ready to sell military equipment to Ukraine. The supply of surpluses will not affect the defense capabilities of Germany itself, and it is possible to train the crews of the Armed Forces for these armored vehicles fairly quickly. All that is lacking is political will.
Besides the offer of Krauss-Maffei Wegmann recently there was information on the acquisition by Ukraine of Slovak 155-mm SpGH ZUZANA.
© 2022, GDC. © GDC and www.globaldefensecorp.com. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to www.globaldefensecorp.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Be the first to comment