German concern Rheinmetall is ready to supply more than 100 tanks to Ukrainian Armed Forces in 2023 - media

This was reported by Handelsblatt.

"From the older Leopard 1 model, 20 main battle tanks can be converted and delivered this year and another 80 within 20 months," the article says.

The German arms industry is preparing to supply German Leopard 1, Leopard 2 and modernized British Challenger 1 to Ukraine. At the same time, many observers did not expect the Challenger 1, as the model is inferior to the newer version.

The newspaper adds that Rheinmetall decided to purchase and modernize the Leopard 1 and Challenger 1 because they "are equally superior to the main battle tanks of the Russian Federation and can significantly increase Ukraine's combat capability."

At the same time, Berlin plays a key role in this matter, as it is the one that must approve the re-export of German tanks. The final decision is to be made on January 20 during a meeting of defense ministers from 50 countries in Ramstein.

• On January 14, British PM Rishi Sunak confirmed during a telephone conversation with Volodymyr Zelenskyy that his country will provide Ukraine with Challenger 2 tanks. In addition to 14 Challenger 2 tanks, the UK will provide Ukraine with 30 AS90 self-propelled artillery systems as part of a new military aid package.

• On January 19, the former commander of the Polish Army, former Deputy Defense Minister General Waldemar Skrzypczak said that most Leopard tanks should be provided to Ukraine by countries located far from the front line. Germany and Spain may provide up to 150 tanks