The new tanks for Ukraine really can The German CSU party demands financial consequences for Berlin after the New Year’s riots

Now things suddenly move fast: after the announcement of French President Emmanuel Macron that he would deliver an undetermined number of AMX 10 RC reconnaissance tanks to Ukraine, Germany and the US are also moving and supplying Kiev with new equipment in defense against Russia. Specifically: the German infantry fighting vehicle Marder and the American counterpart Bradley. The three can:

AMX 10 RC: Small but mighty

The AMX 10 RC reconnaissance and reconnaissance tank with its 6×6 wheel drive is a highly mobile, armored lightweight 14-ton, which allows you to quickly move forward and reconnoitre enemy positions. Nevertheless, the Frenchman, which has been in production since the 1970s, should not be underestimated: its 105 millimeter gun is actually too large for its small overall size and, if caught in the right place, can also pose a threat to Russian T72 tanks.

France still owns about 250 AMX 10 RC tanks. The downside: the armor is less protective than that of “real” main battle tanks. And: the wheel drive ensures high speeds and mobility. Off-road, especially when it’s swampy like in Ukraine in spring, it’s rather unsuitable.

Marder: Old but efficient

Chancellor Olaf Scholz has long been due. But now it is paving the way for the German infantry fighting vehicle Marder. About 100 copies are stored by the German industry, part of which has already been committed to Greece. The Marder was developed during the Cold War and has been continuously modernized ever since. Exactly which model Germany wants to supply is not known.

The Marder weighs 35 tons, has a chain drive of 600 hp and is equipped with a 20 millimeter gun. But it can also shoot down guided anti-tank missiles like the Milan. And above all: the Marder can transport up to seven soldiers to the front and protect them with its good armor. It is therefore a means of supporting the infantry.

Bradley: Proven fighting machine

Named after US World War II General Omar Bradley, the armored personnel carrier is the American counterpart to the Marder. With a 25 millimeter gun, however, it has a little more penetration power. The main gun can fire up to 200 rounds per minute and can be used against infantry or light armored vehicles. From the side of the rotating turret, the Bradley can also launch armor-piercing guided missiles. The United States has thousands of vehicles in various designs that were developed in the 1980s and widely used and proven in the wars in Iraq. In addition to a crew of three of commander, driver and gunner, the Bradley can carry up to seven infantrymen. Ukraine already has the previous version, the M113 infantry fighting vehicle, supplied by Western allies. However, the Bradley will again provide more protection, firepower and mobility.

Defense expert Carlo Masala: Battle tanks are on the agenda

But why is it only now, almost a year later, that the West is delivering the war material that Ukraine has been asking for for a long time? According to Carlo Masala, German military expert and lecturer at the Bundeswehr University in Munich, the decisive factor was the missile war against Ukraine that Russia has escalated in recent weeks: “There was an impression that Russia wanted to bomb Ukraine back to the Stone Age.” , said Masala in an interview with ZDF.

Secondly, it is now finally clear that Russian President Putin will not negotiate peace if Ukraine does not recognize the annexation of the occupied territories. In this combination, the self-imposed line of not providing modern western armor systems was subsequently dropped. The main gain for Ukraine from the light tanks now on the horizon is that soldiers can be moved quickly and protected to the front. The decisive factor, according to Masala, is that the training is now taking place quickly and that the Ukrainians can use the device quickly.

According to the defense expert, “breaking taboos” will also mean that the supply of heavy battle tanks will be discussed in the coming months. Think of the Leopard II, the French Leclerc or the American Abrams. These would be of a different caliber in a literal sense.

Leopard II – the monster

The German Leopard II tank has been in production since the late 1970s, but with its various versions it is still one of the most modern and manoeuvrable tanks in the world. The Swiss army also relies on the 65-ton tank with its 120-millimeter gun, which can hit the enemy at a distance of 3 kilometers with pinpoint accuracy. The Leopard II would be clearly superior to Russian tanks. Several European countries use the Leopard II. A few months ago there were steps in Spain to transfer Leos to Ukraine. In Finland, parliamentarians this week called for the Leopard II to be delivered to Ukraine.

Abrams – the American classic

The Abrams is the main battle tank of the United States Army. It is about the same weight as the Leopard II and also carries a 120mm gun and a large caliber machine gun. The Abrams usually occurs in conjunction with the Bradley. In the Iraq War, the Americans and this duo destroyed hundreds of Soviet-made tanks, which Russia is now also deploying in Ukraine. So far, US President Joe Biden has never spoken openly about sending Abrams tanks to Ukraine.

Leclerc: the number 1 in France

The French main battle tank Leclerc belongs to the same weight class as the Leopard and the Abrams. At the end of last year, Ukraine officially asked France to hand over Leclerc. The French army is said to still have some 220 operational Leclercs. However, production has been halted and there is also a lack of spare parts, so France will probably keep its tanks to itself for now.