Greece to donate BMP-1P tracked armored IFVs to Ukraine in exchange for German Marder 1A3/1A5 IFVs.

According to information published by the "PRO NEWS" website on June 1, 2022, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz agreed with the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on the transfer of Greek army BMP-1P tracked armored IFVs (Infantry Fighting Vehicles) to Ukraine in exchange for German-made Marder 1A3 or 1A5 tracked armored IFVs.
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Greek army BMP-1P tracked armored IFV Infantry Fighting Vehicle (Picture source Screen Shot Youtube Video)

Citing information from the PRO News website, Greek will transfer 122 BMP-1P tracked armored IFVs (Infantry Fighting Vehicles) to Ukraine including 7,62mm caliber machine gun and ammunition. Greece will also delivered to Ukraine 15,000 73 mm rounds, 2,100 122 mm rockets, 20,000 AK-47 Kalashnikov assault rifles, 3,200,000 7.62 mm rounds, 60 MANPAD FIM-92 Stinger man-portable air defense missile, 17,000 155 mm artillery rounds, and 1,100 RPG-18 anti-tank rockets.

The Greek government will use six C-130 transport aircraft from the Hellenic Air Force, and 10 Canadian and 5 New Zealand military transport aircraft to deliver these weapons and ammunition to Ukraine.

On June 1, 2022, the Army Recognition editorial team reported that Germany had accepted a tank swap deal with Greece to send BMP-1 tracked armored IFVs to Ukraine in exchange of German-made Lynx KF41 or second-hand Marder 1A3 IFVs.

The BMP-1P of the Greek army is an improved version of the Soviet-made BMP-1 that was developed in the middle of the 1970s after an analysis of BMP-1 combat use during the 1973 Yom Kippur War and during the Angolan Civil War three years later.

The BMP-1P has a similar armament such as the standard BMP-1 including a 73 mm Model 2A28 smoothbore, low-pressure, short-recoil gun which weighs 115 kg. Firepower was enhanced by adding the pintle-mounted 9P135M launcher with a semi-automatic control capable of firing SACLOS guided 9M113 "Konkurs" (AT-5 Spandrel) and 9M113M "Konkurs-M" (AT-5B Spandrel B) ATGMs which increased armor penetration and extended weapon range.

The Marder 1A3 is an upgraded version of the Marder family of tracked armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV). The main armament of the vehicle consists of one 20 mm Rheinmetall MK 20 Rh202 automatic cannon. The second armament of the Marder 1A3 includes one 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun MG3 mounted to the right of the main armament. Two banks of three electrically operated 76 mm smoke grenade dischargers are mounted between the coaxial machine gun and the gun. On the right side of the turret, there is also a MILAN anti-tank guided missile launcher station operated by the commander with one missile ready to fire and six inside the vehicles.

The Marder 1A5 is the latest modernized version in the Marder IFV family. It has an improved mine protection armor. Additional anti-mine armor was fitted and the interior was completely redesigned in order to improve survivability against mine blasts.

Marder 1A3 tracked armored IFV Infantry Fighting Vehicle. (Picture source Army Recognition)

Marder 1A5 tracked armored IFV Infantry Fighting Vehicle. (Picture source Army Recognition)