In a recent development, the delivery of 400 armored vehicles from Germany to Ukraine has faced significant delays. The German-funded contract was initially scheduled to begin deliveries in 2023; however, as of April, not a single unit has been delivered. The German publication Bild reported on this issue. The vehicles in question are German-made MRAP armored vehicles known as BATT UMG, and the contract was awarded to Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft (FFG) for a total value of €315 million. The Federal Ministry of Defense spokesperson confirmed that all vehicles are expected to be delivered by 2024. The delay in deliveries seems to be attributed to poorly established logistics and production processes, as well as restrictions on export permits from the United States to Germany. Additionally, the vehicles have not yet obtained the necessary certification for mine protection, further complicating their delivery.

In September 2023, secret documents obtained by the German Ministry of Defense outlined plans to supply Ukraine with 20 armored vehicles per month from January to October 2024. However, no vehicles of this type have been delivered thus far. The delays have resulted in a decrease in the total expected volume of transferred equipment in 2024, from 200 to 100 units. The constant supply disruptions are primarily due to the lack of necessary certification for the vehicles and the restrictions on export permits. The German company FFG manufactures the vehicles under license from the United States, performing the final assembly using American parts. As a result, the first deliveries are now anticipated to take place in June 2024, significantly later than initially planned.

ملخص الأخبار

• Germany announced a tranche of military aid to Ukraine in June 2023, including armored vehicles.
• This year’s deliveries were postponed from January to May and now anticipated to start in June.
• The delays were partly due to restrictive export permits from the U.S. to Germany, impacting vehicle delivery.
• No successful tests for necessary certificates for mine protection have been conducted on BATT UMG vehicles.