Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark are pooling their resources in the purchase of Leopard 1A5 tanks, a joint statement by their defense ministers says. The older models would be bought directly from German industry and go through an overhaul before being sent to the Ukrainian frontlines.
The statement pledges at least 100 tanks to Ukraine, “including the required logistic support and training.” A portion of these will be arriving “within the coming months.” The “Leo 1A5 Initiative” would also include a “spare parts and ammunition-package” and is “open to [participation by] further partners.” The joint statement noted that Belgium has already “shown interest in participating.”
The hope is that the delivery of Leopard 1A5’s (which the statement describes as a “robust and assertive Western-designed main battle tank”) will “contribute to a substantial and sustainable strengthening of the Ukrainian armed forces and complement the efforts already underway to support Ukraine with LEOPARD 2 main battle tanks.”
The initiative is treated as separate from the one involving the modern Leopard 2A6 battle tanks. Prior to the meeting of all NATO defense ministers, the defense ministers of the countries providing military support to Ukraine will meet on February 14th in Brussels. Deliveries of the Leopard 2 will be further discussed there.
As with the Leopard 2’s, the initiative’s success hinged on German approval; countries that purchase German-made military weapons and equipment must receive the nod from Berlin before being allowed to transfer them to another country.
On Monday, February 7th, the request for the export of 178 German-made Leopard 1A5’s was finally granted. The Leopard type 1A5 tank is a modernized version of the old 1A1 tanks and the predecessor of the Leopard 2 tanks. A few weeks ago, Berlin let drop its reservations and said it would deliver the latter model while permitting others to do likewise.
Following Berlin’s most recent green light, the Dutch defense ministry announced that it would join Germany and Denmark in buying at least 100 Leopard 1A5 battle tanks for Ukraine. The German and Dutch defense ministries had been exploring options for giving more tanks to Ukraine.
Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren (D66) wrote to the House of Representatives that the Russo-Ukrainian war was “in a crucial phase as Russia continues to mobilize and there are signs that Russia is preparing a new offensive. That is why the provision of battle tanks is important,” she added while emphasizing that it was “about ensuring Ukraine’s survival as a sovereign state.”
During an interview with Dutch national broadcaster NOS, Ollongren said the Leopard 1A5 was “really a tested tank.” Once “fixed up and made battle-ready,” they “will definitely be useful for the Ukrainians, and also better than a number of Russian tanks,” she added.
Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark will purchase the tanks from its maker, the German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall, which currently stores them. Its top executive let it be known that 20 to 25 tanks could probably be overhauled and delivered to Ukraine this year.
The rest are unlikely to face the Russian military until next year, he added.
