Rheinmetall has received an order from the German federal government to supply 20 additional Marder infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) to Ukraine. This was reported by the company's press service, according to UNN.
Details
The order was placed in March 2024, and its value was not disclosed, but it is said to be in the double-digit millions of euros. By this time, Rheinmetall has already delivered a triple-digit number of Marder BMPs to the Ukrainian Armed Forces as part of direct deliveries and circular exchange programs.
The 1A3 Marder version that has been ordered now is also equipped with an integrated laser rangefinder, which allows for efficient and accurate target destruction. The company has already delivered the first 20 of these combat vehicles to Ukraine on behalf of the German government in March 2023. Since then, several more batches have been delivered, each in double digits.
Rheinmetall has acquired a refurbished 1A3 Marder infantry fighting vehicle from the Bundeswehr. The company began overhauling the BMP for immediate deployment at its own expense in the spring of 2022. Since then, the work has been carried out at Rheinmetall's facilities in Unterluss and Kassel.
Addendum
The Marder BMP, which was developed for the Bundeswehr and is still in service there, is one of the world's most proven weapons systems of its kind. Since its inception, the vehicle has been repeatedly modernized and improved its combat effectiveness.
The Bundeswehr currently has more than 300 Puma BMPs in service, which represent the latest generation of this type of combat vehicle and are gradually replacing the Marder BMPs in service with the German army.
Recall
German defense giant Rheinmetall plans to build at least four weapons production plants in Ukraine to manufacture shells, military equipment, gunpowder, and anti-aircraft weapons.