German defense concern Rheinmetall plans to purchase about 100 Leopard 1 tanks from Ruag, a Swiss company specializing in the aerospace and defense industry, for further shipments to Ukraine. newspaper reports Tags-Anzeiger.
The material shows that Ruag purchased 96 used Leopard 1 tanks from Italy in 2016, which were not ready for service during the process. The Swiss company wanted to resell them or use them as spare parts. But now, according to the newspaper, old tanks are in demand again due to a special operation in Ukraine.
As reported in the article, Ruag confirmed Rheinmetall’s desire to purchase the tanks and then deliver them to Ukraine. However, the Swiss State Economy Secretariat vetoed the agreement for legal reasons.
Rheinmetall, ex-head of German defense, worries Armin Papperger declarationHe said that he is conducting promising negotiations with Ukraine on the construction of a factory for the production of tanks in that country.