Oleg Zhdanov does not rule out that Leopards are capricious tanks.
01/04/23
Translated from Ukrainian via Google and OFP
Military expert Oleg Zhdanov said that Germany may not supply Ukraine with Leopard tanks because of their quality and may fear losing its reputation.
“In principle, it is quite possible that there will certainly be reputational losses for the country and the supplier. Well, it could be the same situation as with the Panzerhaubitze 2000 that we are talking about. On the one hand, our military praised the French Caesar and said that this is a good howitzer in terms of counter-battery combat, but, on the other hand, they wrote to me that this self-propelled gun is also capricious, which requires repairs and maintenance very often. We still have “three other axes”, but are in lightweight versions, which were handed over to us, “Zhdanov said on the air.
He noted that HIMARS performed great.
“There is a two-year queue for them, and the plant no longer knows how to fulfill the orders of everyone. It is expanding production and attracting additional specialists, and so on. MLRS systems have gained immense popularity. Now everyone will receive MARS, the French version, and the M270. Quality: war is a test of the quality of any weapon,” the expert added.
Transfer of Leopard tanks to Ukraine – details
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has previously said that Berlin is not sending Leopard II tanks to Ukraine in order to prevent “the expansion of the war.”
At the same time, Mikhail Podolyak, adviser to the head of the President’s Office, noted that the Ukrainian military would soon receive Abrams and Leopard tanks.
Later, it became known that the German authorities do not plan to independently deal with the issue of transferring Leopard tanks to Ukraine. This will be done in coordination with partners in the North Atlantic Alliance.
https://www.unian.net/war/rossiya-pytaetsya-bombit-bankovuyu-arestovich-video-12099435.html
Chances are good that the Leopards are indeed junk. It’s not only the crappy PH 2000 that makes me say this, but the bad showing the Leopards had with the Turkish army in Syria. And, not to forget the German G-36, which refuses to shoot straight when hot.
If Ukraine doesn’t get Abrams or Leopards, what’s stopping them from getting Challengers or South Korea’s K2s?
I remember a report that the German artillery barrels were already wearing out in Ukraine, perhaps the Leopards have a similar design flaw?
Alternatively they are just treacherous fucks wanting to help out their trade partner.
Btw, why can’t Ukraine simply buy the planes and tanks they need on the open market?
And WTF happened to the 11 Slovakian MiG’s?
Report from 14th of Dec says Slovakia still waiting for replacements before sending MiG’s.
https://english.nv.ua/nation/slovakia-needs-replacement-for-migs-it-s-willing-to-transfer-to-ukraine-news-50291010.html
Then what happened to Poland’s intention to cover and protect Slovakia in the interim?
Wasn’t that the Czech Republic?
They still have that pro-Russian dumbfuck as a president, so maybe that has something to do with it.
Oh, I think you’re right. There have been so many deals that haven’t materialized I forget which is which. Needless to say its shameful those planes haven’t made it into theater in 8 years.
The war has proven the West to be a clusterfuck of lies, backstabbing and incompetence.
All too true. Corrupt, but not as concentrated and coordinated as it is in Russia.