Space Industry and Business News
MILTECH
Lithuania now a repair hub for Ukraine's tanks
Lithuania now a repair hub for Ukraine's tanks
by AFP Staff Writers
Rukla, Lithuania (AFP) Dec 15, 2023

Two German Leopard tanks damaged in Ukraine were test driven in Lithuania on Friday following repairs, to showcase how the Baltic NATO member has become a hub for such work.

Lithuanian Defence Minister Arvydas Anusauskas sat on a turret on one of the tanks as he was driven along a rough road in the military training area in the central town of Rukla.

"What can I say?.. A powerful tank," he told reporters.

The tanks presented on Friday -- among the first repaired in Lithuania -- are expected to reach Ukraine next month, nearly two years after it was invaded by Russia.

According to the latest public data, Western countries have delivered 71 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.

Some have already been damaged beyond repair during Ukraine's counter-offensive.

Lithuania will be Europe's only country to repair Leopard 2 A6 and A5 tanks, the company responsible for the work said.

"For these variants, this is the only hub," Sebastian Dietz, CEO of Lithuania Defense Services (LDS), told reporters.

- As many repairs as needed -

The company was established by German industry giants Rheinmetall and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), which also manufacture the Leopard tank.

LDS took in its first tanks in October and, according to the current contract, will conduct repair work until the end of next year.

According to Dietz, the repairs were commissioned by Rheinmetall and KMW and are being carried out according to an agreement between the German and Ukrainian defence ministries.

LDS said it was ready to accept as many tanks as needed.

"We can't plan how many units will be damaged on the battlefield," LDS managing director Aivaras Kasuba told reporters.

Dietz said that judging from the units they have received, the tanks sustain all kinds of combat-related damage -- "Direct hits, mines, drone attacks and also water."

The Leopard 2 tank was created during the Cold War, with potential clashes with the Soviets in mind.

Almost a quarter-century after the Leopard 2 was delivered to the West German army, these tanks are now being used in Ukraine against Russian forces that are still heavily dependent on Soviet arms.

Related Links
The latest in Military Technology for the 21st century at SpaceWar.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
MILTECH
US concerned over reports Israel used white phosphorus
Washington (AFP) Dec 11, 2023
The White House expressed concern Monday over reports that Israel used US-supplied white phosphorus in attacks on Lebanon, adding that it was seeking more details about the allegations. Lebanon accused Israel of repeatedly using the incendiary weapon in October, while the Washington Post on Monday said analysis of shell fragments from one attack showed the rounds were US-made. "We've seen the reports, we're certainly concerned about that. We'll be asking questions to try to learn a little bit mo ... read more

MILTECH
Leidos completes successful Lonestar Tactical Space Support Vehicle demonstration

NASA's Space Station Laser Comm Terminal Achieves First Link

NASA Laser Reflecting Instruments to Help Pinpoint Earth Measurements

Closing the design-to-manufacturing gap for optical devices

MILTECH
HawkEye 360's Pathfinder constellation complete five years of Advanced RF Detection

New antenna offers unprecedented flexibility for military applications

WVU Team Tackles Radio Interference in Astronomy with NSF Funding

Quantum Space launches Sentry to pioneer deep space communications network

MILTECH
MILTECH
Airbus presents first flight model structure for Galileo Second Generation

Galileo Gen2 satellite production commences at Airbus facility

Galileo Second Generation satellite aces first hardware tests

PASSport project testing

MILTECH
German army orders 62 Airbus military helicopters

Britain, Japan, Italy sign $32B treaty to develop next-generation fighter jet

Taiwan detects another Chinese balloon crossing median line

Inventor of air conditioning helped chill NASA wind tunnels

MILTECH
Utility-Scale Quantum Program Advances Toward Prototyping

Researchers safely integrate fragile 2D materials into devices

Chairman of Taiwan chip giant TSMC to retire next year

With eye on China, Dutch and Koreans vow stronger chip ties

MILTECH
Planet Labs Integrates Planetary Variables into Sentinel Hub for Enhanced Earth Observation

Ancient bricks shed light on Earth's magnetic field anomalies 3,000 years ago

NASA Sensor Produces First Global Maps of Surface Minerals in Arid Regions

Spire Global secures major EUMETSAT contract for satellite weather data

MILTECH
California children sue US govt over pollution

Indigenous environmental activist killed in Peru

Pakistan uses artificial rain against smog for first time

Brazil caimans fight to survive in polluted Rio waters

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.