Germany officially confirms donation to Ukraine of 40 Marder IFVs and 1 Patriot missile system.

According to a list published on the website of the German Ministry of Defense on January 13, 2023, Germany confirms its plan to deliver 40 Marder tracked armored IFVs (Infantry Fighting Vehicles) and one Patriot air defense missile system as military aid for Ukraine.
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Germany to deliver Ukraine with one Patriot air defense missile system and 40 Marder tracked armored IFVs.

Germany has provided various forms of military aid to Ukraine in recent years, including training, equipment, and advisory support. This aid has been provided in response to Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Funding for the security capacity building initiative amounts to a total of 2.2 billion Euros for the year 2023 (after 2 billion Euros for 2022). The funds are to be used primarily to support Ukraine.

According to information published by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Germany is the second country after the United States to provide the largest military aid to Ukraine

The total value of individual licenses issued by the Federal Government for the export of military equipment in the period from January 1, 2022, to January 9, 2023 amounts to 2.245.722.401 Euro.

With the delivery of the Marder IFVs, Germany is taking a further step in its military aid to Ukraine by providing vehicles with offensive capabilities, capable of fighting Russian armored troops.

Germany is the second to announce the supply to Ukraine of the Patriot air defense missile system. On December 21, 2022, the United States announced the donation of one battery of the Patriot air defense system to the United States to Ukraine. Patriot air defense will contribute to Ukraine's air defense systems that have been supplied by the U.S. and allies over the last number of months according to DOD.

Launcher unit of a German army Patriot air defense missile system. (Picture source U.S. DoD)

The Patriot is an American-made mobile, all-weather air defense system that is designed to intercept and destroy incoming enemy aircraft, drones, and cruise missiles. The Patriot system uses radar to detect incoming threats, and then employs interceptor missiles to destroy them.

The Patriot missile system uses various types of interceptor missiles, each with their own range capabilities, but the PAC-3 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile has a range of about 160 km (100 miles) and is designed to engage aircraft and cruise missiles.

The Patriot Extended Range Interceptor (ERINT) missile has a range of approximately 300 km (180 miles) and is designed to engage aircraft, cruise missiles, and theater ballistic missiles.

Currently, the German army has a total of 710 tracked armored IFVs including 305 Marder 1A3/A4, 71 Marder 1A5, and 334 Puma. The German army can easily donate 40 of their Marder IFVs from its military inventory.

The Marder is a German Infantry Fighting Vehicle that was first introduced in the 1970s. It is used by the German Army and several other countries. The vehicle is armed with a 20mm automatic cannon and a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun. It is also equipped with a Milan anti-tank missile launcher and smoke grenade launchers.

The Marder IFV has a crew of three and can carry up to eight infantry soldiers. It is considered to be one of the best IFVs in the world. It is still in service in the German army and many other countries and also has undergone multiple upgrades from Marder A1 to the A5 variant, to keep its capabilities modern.

German army Marder tracked armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle. (Picture source U.S. doD)