German concern Rheinmetall to transfer 20 Marder BMPs to Ukraine in 2025

German concern Rheinmetall will transfer 20 more Marder 1A3 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) to Ukraine in early 2025. This is stated on Tuesday, December 17, on the company's website.

"In December 2024, Düsseldorf-based technology group Rheinmetall has been ordered to deliver 20 more Marder 1A3 BMPs to Ukraine. Delivery is scheduled for the first half of 2025. The order amounted to €1 million. The delivery will be financed by Germany," the statement reads.

It is specified that Marder 1A3 version vehicles are distinguished by an additional laser rangefinder to improve the accuracy of firing.

The first deliveries of the vehicles to Kiev were made in March 2023.

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Earlier, on December 2, the German Defense Ministry said that the military aid package to Ukraine would include IRIS-T air defense systems, Leopard 1 tanks, as well as reconnaissance and attack drones. The Leopard 1 was used by the German army mainly until the 1980s. It was completely removed from the country's armament in 2003.

Before that, on November 26, German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock said at a meeting of G7 foreign ministers that Germany was ready to transfer two more IRIS-T systems to Ukraine. One of them will be medium-range and the second will be short-range; the equipment is to be delivered in December.

Western countries have stepped up military and financial support for Kiev amid Russia's special operation to protect Donbas, which was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, 2022, after the situation in the region worsened due to shelling by the Ukrainian military.