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| Germany Admits it has Delivered More Advanced Missile Systems to Ukraine |
Berlin - German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht admits her country has sent a number of new heavy weapons to Ukraine. He said the delivery was the first of several multiple-launch rocket systems that Germany had promised to Ukraine.
"The promised Mars II dual rocket launcher and three other self-propelled (PzH) 2000 howitzers have been delivered," Lambrecht told reporters. "We kept our promise," he said.
According to German media, three Mars-II systems have been delivered to Kiev. Mars-II is a European modification of the US-made MLRS M270 twin rocket launcher, which was jointly developed by Germany, Italy and France.
According to the German company KMW, which is one of the manufacturers of the system, the Mars-II is capable of firing up to 12 missiles in one minute with a range of more than 70 km. Read also: Ukrainian Military Morale Declines, Unity Fades According to media reports, the system can fire guided missiles using a GPS system or mine-throwing missiles.
In addition to the Mars-II, the delivery of the new weapons also includes three PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers, bringing the total number of long-range artillery systems delivered to Ukraine to ten. Lambrecht also spoke of the five self-propelled “Gepard” anti-aircraft guns supplied to Ukraine.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Aleksey Reznikov confirmed receiving three such systems along with "tens of thousands of rounds" of ammunition suitable for them. Germany had previously promised to send 30 “Gepard” air defense tanks to Ukraine. The first shipment of 15 tanks is expected to arrive before the end of this month, while another 15 will be delivered in August.
Berlin promised to send Cobra-type artillery radars to Ukraine by September. "The contract has been signed," Lambrecht told reporters. He added Ukrainian troops would soon begin their training on "this very complex system." According to the media, Germany will also start training Ukrainian soldiers on the Iris-T SLM anti-aircraft missile system "in a few days."
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has repeatedly promised to send Germany's most modern air defense system to Kiev. The announcement even caused confusion earlier this year when the Bundeswehr, the German Armed Forces, admitted that they themselves do not have a ground version of the IRIS-T system.
According to German media reports, Kiev will get the promised air defense system no earlier than November. According to reports on Tuesday, the new system of "blow" will arrive in Ukraine "in the fall."
This is the second time Berlin has sent heavy weapons to Kiev. Back in June, Germany transferred seven PzH 2000 howitzers along with other military hardware to Ukraine.
Previously, it supplied Ukrainian troops with thousands of portable anti-tank and anti-air missiles, tens of thousands of anti-tank mines and millions of ammunition. However, Kiev and even Ukraine's former ambassador to Germany still repeatedly criticize Berlin for what they call a reluctance to send military aid to Ukraine and the slow pace of deliveries.
In July, Lambrecht acknowledged Germany had to send weapons to Ukraine from its own army supplies and its capacity was limited. On Tuesday, he also said the multiple rocket launchers and howitzers were from Bundeswehr stock.