Ukrainian Armed Forces have received six additional Panzerhaubitze (PzH) 2000 self -propelled artillery systems, handed over by Germany in a sophisticated international arrangement. The fact is reflected in the updated official list of the military aid published by the Federal Government, highlighting the deliveries to Ukraine over the past month.
Especially interesting here is the source of these mobile howitzers, as the background suggests those arrived from Qatar: in September, Germany entered an agreement with the Middle Eastern country. The two parties initiated a "ring exchange" (Ringtausch) of military equipment, with Germany getting 12 PzH 2000 systems for a prospective delivery of 12 more advanced RCH 155 systems to Qatar at a discount price in the future.
Read more: PzH 2000 For Ukraine Bought Even From Qatar: Estimate of Remaining Stockpile
The PzH 2000 systems were to arrive in two batches of six, the first half by the end of 2024, and the second in 2025. But apparently the initial batch of Qatari howitzers reached Ukraine at an impressive pace by the end of Q3 2024. This quickness may be due to the vehicles being in well-maintained state, which would imply the second batch won't take long to catch up either.
The backstory of these artillery systems is quite trivial: Germany sold 24 units to Qatar from in 2013, now offering to replace them with better RCH-155 artillery despite criticism from local media.
Besides the artillery provisions, the updated list of Ukraine aid underlines other recent transfers to Ukraine. The air defenses have been reinforced with the IRIS-T SLM medium-range surface-to-air missile system, confirmed to arrive on October 9th, 2024, alongside one short-range variant of this system dubbed IRIS-T SLS. Germany also restocked to some extent Ukraine's inventory of IRIS-T and RIM-7 Sea Sparrow interceptors, the latter used with unconventional FrankenSAM systems — which is a revamped Soviet Buk vehicle integrated with Western missile launchers.
Other weapons and equipment transferred over the past month are:
- 8 Leopard 1 tanks with ammunition,
- 20 Marder IFVs with ammunition,
- 4 unspecified MRAP vehicles,
- 2 Wisent mine-clearance plows,
- 1 Beaver bridge,
- 30 Vector reconnaissance UAVs
- ammunition:
- 24,000 artillery shells (155mm),
- 13,000 RGW-90 Matador anti-tank shots,
- 40 000 grenades (40mm).
- smalls arms:
- 460 MK 556 assault rifles,
- 90 HLR 338 sniper rifles,
- 3,000 SFP9 pistols.
Earlier, Defense Express also reported on the recent military aid update from the United States to Ukraine, it indicates the transfer of the third Patriot system from America and hundreds of Stinger missiles.
Read more: US Donates Third Patriot, Hundreds of Stinger Missiles to Ukraine in the New $425 mln Package
