Germany's robust military aid bolsters Ukraine's defences with Leopards

The German authorities have highlighted their substantial military support for Ukraine. The latest list published on the government website includes 21,000 rounds for the Gepard self-propelled guns and eight valuable Leopard 1A5 tanks. This means that Berlin has now sent 58 Leopard tanks to the front.

Germany is one of the most important countries in Europe regarding the value of equipment provided as military aid to Ukraine—sources from the German newspaper Bild claim that Berlin provided aid worth CAD 10.4 billion in 2024. Berlin is also where the coveted Skynex air defence systems, Marder infantry fighting vehicles, and even one of the most valuable tools for combating air threats, the Patriot systems, have been delivered to the front.

The list of equipment given to the Ukrainians keeps growing, and the latest update of German support is from Monday, July 29. It includes numerous rounds for the Gepard self-propelled guns (21,000 rounds), two armoured recovery vehicles, Bergepanzer 2 with spare parts, and a range of smaller tools, including 10 surveillance radars, almost 25,000 combat helmets, and a field hospital.

Germany also reports that new tanks have recently reached the front for the Ukrainians. We are talking about eight Leopard 1A5 units. Thus, the total support for this type of machine has increased to 58 units.

Let us remember that Ukrainians have been receiving Leopard 1A5 tanks from Germany for many months. Although the condition of most of these machines is unquestionable, the German media reported in 2023 that Kyiv refused to accept one batch of 10 tanks due to the urgent need for repairs.

Although the Leopard 1 dates back to the 1960s, the A5 variant, which Germany supports Ukraine with, is a much newer design from the 1980s. The manufacturer has equipped this tank with a series of modifications that make the Leopard 1A5 capable of threatening newer units even on a modern battlefield.

Journalist Przemysław Juraszek explained that the most significant change in the A5 variant compared to its predecessor, the A4, is the presence of the EMES 18 fire-control system. Thanks to this, the Leopard 1A5 crew has a thermal sight for the gunner and a ballistic computer, allowing precise firing toward the enemy.

These machines sent from Berlin to Kyiv are offensively capable, and their offensive capability is provided by a 105 mm rifled cannon adapted for firing modern APFSDS-T ammunition. This ammunition is sufficient to penetrate the frontal armour of post-Soviet T-72 tanks and their modernizations.