According to information published by the German news website "Der Spiegel" on February 11, 2023, Ukrainian soldiers are now in Germany to be trained in the use of the Leopard 2A6 Main Battle Tank. The start of training will begin next week at the Munster military training in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany for a period of 6 to 8 weeks.
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Leopard 2 training tank. (Picture source Portugal MoD)
At the same time, Ukrainian soldiers are also in the United Kingdom for training on the British-made Challenger 2 MBT (Main Battle Tank). Citing information from the British Ministry of Defense, the first Challenger 2 MBTs for Ukraine will be supplied in March this year. The United Kingdom will deliver 14 tanks.
On January 25, 2023, Germany agreed to the initial delivery of 14 Leopard 2 Main Battle Tanks (MBTs), and more specifically the 2A6 version which is considered as one of the most powerful MBTs in the world.
Other Ukrainian soldiers are also in Munster to be trained on the Marder tracked armored IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle). On January 14, 2023, Germany officially announced the supply of 40 Marder IFVs to Ukrainian armed forces.
The German military reports that Ukrainian soldiers will undergo a fast-tracked 8-week training program to operate the Leopard 2A6 tank for driving and firing, compared to the basic 10-week training.
The duration of training for the Leopard 2A6 typically lasts for several months, with some sources indicating that it can take up to a year to fully qualify as a tank commander. The exact training schedule and curriculum can vary depending on the country and military branch operating the Leopard 2A6 tank.
The Leopard 2A6 is a German-made main battle tank that is widely regarded as one of the most advanced and capable tanks in the world. Operating the Leopard 2A6 requires extensive training including tank driving and maneuvering, the use of weapon systems, tactics, and maintenance and repair.
German Newspaper website "Der Spiegel" reports that since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, February 2022, around 1,500 Ukrainian soldiers have received training at multiple military bases in Germany on operating combat vehicles, such as the Gepard anti-aircraft system and the PzH 2000 155mm self-propelled howitzer, now in service with the Ukrainian army.
