Rheinmetall confirmed that it has delivered a new batch of 20 Marder 1A3 Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) to the Ukrainian Armed Forces as part of Germany’s efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s troops and capabilities. With this delivery, the missing units have been completed, bringing the total to nearly 200 combat vehicles sent to the country.
Since the start of the war, the German government has opted to supply Kyiv with a significant number of Marder IFVs to support Ukrainian forces. These vehicles were sourced from both the German Army’s inventory and Rheinmetall’s stocks. As a result, during 2022, Rheinmetall began acquiring and refurbishing Marder 1A3 IFVs from the Bundeswehr’s inventory, initially using its own funds. Since then, these vehicles have been repaired for immediate deployment.
The first deliveries began in March 2023 with the arrival of 20 units, followed by other shipments in double-digit quantities. Months later, in November, Germany delivered the next batch, though the number of units was not confirmed. By that time, however, the German federal government had confirmed the delivery of 80 Marders, along with the necessary ammunition and logistical support.
The latest batch of 20 units was recently delivered and corresponds to an order placed by the German government with the company in March 2024, which was confirmed the following month. Regarding the contract value, the manufacturer has not provided precise figures but estimates it to be in the double-digit millions of euros.
Marder 1A3
Developed for the Bundeswehr, the Marder 1A3 is one of the most battle-tested weapon systems of its class worldwide. Over the years, the vehicle has been modernized to improve its combat performance. In Germany, more than 300 of these IFVs are still in service; however, the Bundeswehr is gradually replacing them with Puma IFVs.
Among the improvements in this modernized IFV model by Rheinmetall is the addition of new laser rangefinders, significantly enhancing targeting accuracy. The Marder is powered by an MTU MB 833 EA-500 six-cylinder engine, delivering 600 horsepower, and has a crew of three. Its main armament is a 20 mm MK 20 Rh 202 cannon, complemented by a coaxial MG-3 machine gun in 7.62×51 mm caliber. The vehicle can carry a small team of six soldiers, along with a total of 336 rounds of 20 mm ammunition and 500 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition in its cargo area.
In its various variants, developed from the Marder 1 built in the 1970s, the Marder is used by several armed forces, including the German Army, the Chilean Army (with more than 270 units purchased in 2008), and the Greek Army, which acquired 40 vehicles, among other countries.
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