Die ersten für die Ukraine bestimmten Kampfpanzer Leopard 1A5 sind nach der Überholung bei der FFG Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft und Krauss-Maffei Wegmann an den Ausbildungsstützpunkt in Klietz geliefert worden. Klietz ist zusammen mit den Standorten Altengrabow und Lehnin in Sachsen-Anhalt/Brandenburg Teil des Ausbildungs-Hub North, der zentralen Drehscheibe der EU-Ausbildungsmission EUMAM UA (European Union Military Assistance Mission Ukraine).
Training for Ukrainian soldiers on the Leopard 1A5 main battle tank has begun at the military training area in Klietz. Trainers are provided by the Danish and German armed forces as well as by industry and later also by the Dutch armed forces. The soldiers learn to drive, radio, and shoot in order to master the tank as well as possible in battle.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and acting Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen got an overview of the first training steps in Klietz on May 5th. Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands jointly finance the repair of the main battle tanks, including purchases from industrial stocks. They were able to observe driver training with SKB driving school tanks and maintenance work on the tank. The simulation system Steel Beasts from eSim Games is used for the combat training of the commanders and platoon leaders.
“We are sending another strong signal of unity in our support for Ukraine, against the Russian aggressor. We will support Ukraine with everything we can. As long as it takes. It will and must remain so in the future,” said Pistorius. The Leopard 1 is really very relevant to the fight. He is younger than the T 72 and therefore dangerous for him. He is convinced that this will have an impact on the battlefield.
Poulsen thanked for the cooperation between the NATO countries and especially between Denmark and Germany. The almost eighty Leopards donated by the three countries to Ukraine are a huge number of tanks that will be very powerful on the battlefield. They are of great importance for Ukraine, also for repelling Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine. "I hope that we can also actively participate in the cooperation when it comes to more ammunition for Ukraine, which Boris initiated," Poulsen continued.
According to Pistorius, training on the Marder 1A3 armored personnel carrier will soon begin in Klietz. Germany has promised Ukraine a total of 40 martens. The Netherlands will take part in further training courses.
On munitions procurement, Poulsen said it was important that countries in Europe get involved in the munitions debate. The discussion is very important because Germany has agreed to do even more for the production of ammunition. Denmark is also thinking about how ammunition production in the northern part of Denmark can be promoted. Private companies are willing to invest in ammunition production.
Pistorius explained that they are working hard on this issue in order to achieve the provision of ammunition, especially in 155 mm caliber. The European Commission visits all places where ammunition is manufactured. There is still a long way to go because more than just a few hundred rounds of this ammunition would be needed. “We are working on that at the moment and in the next week. And I'm quite optimistic that we'll be successful in the short term," Pistorius continued.
Gerhard Heiming
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