Photo, published online recently, suggests a unit of Ukrainian army, most likely the 3rd Assault Brigade, has acquired a Wiesel airborne armored fighting vehicle equipped with a TOW anti-tank missile system.
This vehicle seems to be a de-weaponized variant that can be purchased on the civilian market without limitations, whereas the missile was installed upon delivery. Alternatively, the weapon might be replaced with a turret or a machine gun.
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Wiesel's unique combat specifications are worth paying extra attention to. The vehicle's combat weight without armament is only 2.9 tons, making it transported by helicopter or parachuted out of airplanes. The crew is 2-3 people. Dimensions as listed below.
Mass production of Wiesel 1 vehicles lasted from 1989 to 1992, a total of approximately 350 tankettes were produced in two versions: tailored for the TOW ATGM or for the 20-mm automatic cannon, respectively. There's also the Wiesel 2 variant, slightly larger and specialized at evacuating wounded soldiers.
Despite its age, the German Bundeswehr still operates some 175 Wiesel 1 weaponized tankettes, of which 102 carry TOW missiles.
Moreover, in 2019, the German Army ordered a modernization for its Wiesel fleet, aimed at replacing TOW with MELLS anti-tank guided missiles — a licensed copy of Israeli Spike LR — increasing the range of fire from 3.75 to 5.5 km.
The modernized Wiesel with MELLS started conducting tests in December 2022 but then Germany decided to discontinue this program. In April 2023, media reported that Germans would buy 100 Boxer armored vehicles from Australia to replace all 175 operational Wiesel 1s.
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