Soldiers from 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, travel in a Bradley Fighting Vehicle, May 24, 2014, during Combined Resolve II. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)
The United States and Germany have agreed to supply dozens of infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) to Ukraine, where Russia has been conducting a special military operation for nearly a year.
The decision was announced in a joint statement that was released after a phone call between American President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on January 5.
“President Biden and Chancellor Scholz expressed their common determination to continue to provide the necessary financial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine for as long as needed. To this end, the United States intends to supply Ukraine with Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles, and Germany intends to provide Ukraine with Marder Infantry Fighting Vehicles,” the statement reads.
The statement, which didn’t set a timeline for deliveries, said that both countries plan to train Ukrainian troops on the respective IFVs.
The Bradley, which entered service in the 1980s, is typically armed with a 25 mm M242 Bushmaster chain gun, a 7.62 mm M240C machine gun and dual BGM-71 TOW anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) launcher. The IFV carries up to ten troops and can be equipped with explosive reactive armor for improved protection.
On the other hand, the newer versions of the Marder, which was manufactured in the 1960 and 70s, are armed with 20 mm Rheinmetall MK 20 Rh 202 automatic cannon, a 7.62 mm MG3 machine gun and a MILAN ATGM launcher. The lightly armored IFV can also carry up to ten troops.
Ukraine will reportedly receive around 50 Bradleys from the U.S. and at least 40 Marders from Germany. Both IFVs have day and night fighting capabilities.
A German soldier assigned to 1st Mechanized Infantry Company, Enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Lithuania, checks the ammunition supply for his Marder, German infantry fighting vehicle. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)
The decision to supply Ukraine with Western-made IFVs is the most recent in a series of U.S.-led steps meant to boost the offensive capabilities of Ukraine before spring. Earlier this week, France announced that it will be supplying the country with AMX-10 RC wheeled light tanks.
The heavily armed Bradley and Marder IFVs will make up for some of Ukraine’s armor losses. However, 90 of these vehicles, which are very vulnerable to anti-tank fire, will not be enough to repel a new large offensive by the Russian military, or to penetrate its defensive lines.
