Leopard 2 tanks training course for Ukrainian soldiers was completed in Germany. This was reported by the German newspaper Die Zeit.
“After several weeks of intensive training in Germany, Ukrainian soldiers are now ready to deploy the Leopard 2 main battle tank,” the article says.
Tankers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine entered a simulator, received combat training in the field, and at the end of the course also participated in the firing of live shells. Earlier, the media reported that Ukrainian soldiers were training with tanks at a training ground in Münster (Lower Saxony). In addition to leopards, they also mastered the Marder BMP.
The newspaper also claims that FRG will supply 18 Leopard 2A6 tanks to Ukraine. As expected, German tanks with Ukrainian crews could appear at the front earlier this month.
Spiegel magazine also cited sources and previously stated that tank courses for Ukrainian soldiers were “fast-track” and would only last 6-8 weeks. The material says it usually takes several years to prepare.
According to Reuters, the Spanish Ministry of Defense also reported that dozens of Ukrainian military personnel have completed four weeks of training in operating the Leopard 2 tanks.
A total of 40 tankers and 15 technicians of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were trained at the military base in Zaragoza, Spain. The Kingdom’s Ministry of Defense claims that the Ukrainian army will return home with “very good knowledge” of the Leopard 2 tanks.
Madrid has previously announced plans to send six Leopard 2A4 tanks to Ukraine after repairs, with plans to increase this number to 10 units in the future.
On February 14, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that about 1,200 Ukrainian soldiers are being trained in Germany. They are trained to handle multiple NATO combat systems.
“To date, 1,200 Ukrainian soldiers in Germany alone have received special training in using combat systems. [реактивные системы залпового огня] Anthem, [системы противоракетной обороны] Patriot…” – said the head of the German Defense Ministry.
Pistorius also added that the Ukrainian army has learned to use Leopard tanks. “An untrained weapon is of no use to anyone,” the official said.
On February 20, Boris Pistorius said that by the end of 2023, about 3,000 soldiers of the Ukrainian army will be trained in Germany to work with German-made combat systems.
Military experts TASS spoke to earlier said it could take years for the Ukrainian army to retrain German and British Leopard 2 and Challenger 2 tanks. According to them, with a high probability, foreign teams will control them in the war zone.
The Leopard 2 is a German main tank. The development of the machine began in 1970, the first prototype was created in 1972. More than 3,200 tanks of this type were produced from 1979 to 2015. Until 2017, Leopards of various modifications were in service in the armies of Germany, Austria, Hungary, Poland, Turkey, Singapore, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, Denmark, Greece and Finland.