Rheinmetall offers Ukraine the Panther KF51 main battle tank as equipment for its tank battalions. In an interview with the Handelsblatt, Armin Papperger, CEO of the armaments group, referred to corresponding talks with Kiev and stated that the first tanks could be delivered in 18 months.
The armaments group surprisingly presented the new Panther development to the specialist audience at the Eurosatory trade fair in June 2022. Based on the Leopard 2, the company had integrated modern technologies into the vehicle and, according to its own statements, significantly increased its performance. The core of the increase in performance is a 130 mm weapon system (Future Gun System, FGS) with a smooth barrel, which, according to Rheinmetall, in conjunction with modern ammunition, increases effectiveness on the target by up to 50 percent. In the fully digitized vehicle with electrical architecture according to the NGVA standard, all the prerequisites for maximum situational awareness, reconnaissance and efficient target engagement are in place. Protection has been upgraded to modern standards, including StrikeShield, a combination of active soft and hard kill technologies. Mobility was also improved by limiting the weight to 59 tons.
However, the Panther is still a development project. It is still a long and rocky road to production maturity. The prerequisite for starting production is the clarification of the final configuration as well as the financing, which Ukraine can hardly afford on its own. After all, a unit price of 15 million euros is rumored.
Rheinmetall would set up a plant in Ukraine for production, from which the combat vehicles are to be delivered. The plant will also build Lynx armored personnel carriers, which Rheinmetall is also offering to the Ukraine. Papperger called the production rate three to five tanks per month, which could be increased later. All of this can only take place when the war in Ukraine is over.
Gerhard Heiming
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