Germany Delays Delivery of Armored Vehicles to Ukraine
Germany has fallen behind schedule in delivering armored vehicles to Ukraine. The country promised to deliver up to 400 Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles by the end of 2024.
So far, only a small fraction of these vehicles have been delivered. According to reports, Germany has given Ukraine just 26 MRAPs, which is less than 7% of what was promised.
These armored vehicles are important on the battlefield because they protect soldiers from explosions and ambushes. They also help with medical evacuations and convoy protection.
The German company Flensburger Fahrzeugbau GmbH (FFG) makes these vehicles with €315 million in funding from the German government.
Germany’s Ministry of Defense now says that the remaining MRAPs will be delivered in 2025, not this year as promised. The ministry blames delays on US export approvals and FFG’s responsibility for making the vehicles.
In April, reports mentioned similar delays because the parts used to make these armored vehicles were coming from the US. This caused problems with getting the necessary export licenses and certifying the mine protection systems.
Just last month, Germany announced a new aid package for Ukraine that included 47 more mine-resistant vehicles. However, this is still far short of what was originally promised.