Delays in Armored Vehicle Delivery to Ukraine Attributed to American and German Red Tape
Germany has allocated MRAP armored vehicles for the Ukrainian military, which were scheduled to be delivered in stages starting in January this year. However, according to documents obtained by the BILD newspaper but not yet published, the delivery has been repeatedly postponed.
Ukraine is appealing for increased Western military support as its troops confront intense Russian pressure along the 900-mile frontline. Amidst the perceived Russian momentum, Ukrainian commanders have repeatedly expressed a shortage of ammunition and weaponry necessary to repel Russian attacks.
Germany has been a substantial supporter of Ukraine, despite criticism directed towards Chancellor Olaf Scholz for his hesitation in providing advanced capabilities such as tanks and cruise missiles. The latest German aid package, announced in March, amounted to approximately $523 million and included 200 vehicles and 10,000 artillery shells.
German authorities had reportedly agreed to finance the delivery, totaling around $335 million, with the vehicles to be supplied by Flensburger Fahrzeugbau GmbH (FFG). FFG relies on the United States for essential vehicle components.
The original schedule called for the delivery of 20 vehicles per month from January to October, resulting in a total of 200. However, the delivery has been repeatedly delayed, with the first deliveries pushed back to May and then again to June. The German Defense Ministry confirmed that none of the MRAPs have been delivered thus far.
BILD reported that Berlin has also apparently reduced the expected number of MRAPs from 200 to 100 due to delivery challenges. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced that 100 “armored infantry vehicles” will be provided to Kyiv, with all deliveries anticipated by year’s end.
Citing anonymous ministry sources, BILD suggests that the delays could be attributed to “restrictive export permits from the USA to Germany,” denying FFG access to necessary American components. Another potential explanation is that the MRAPs have not yet obtained certification for their explosive-resistant capabilities, a requirement for export.
Newsweek has not been able to independently verify BILD’s report and has reached out to the German and Ukrainian defense ministries for comment.
