Rheinmetall has successfully delivered 20 additional Marder infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) to the Ukrainian armed forces, bolstering their defense capabilities against Russian aggression. This latest shipment was completed at the end of the third quarter of 2024, bringing the total number of combat vehicles provided to Ukraine—either directly or through ring exchanges—to approximately 200. Among these, a significant portion consists of Marder 1A3 infantry fighting vehicles.
The recent order, financed by the German government, is valued in the mid double-digit millions of euros. Notably, Rheinmetall has already booked the order intake in March 2024. The Marder 1A3 vehicles being delivered feature advanced laser rangefinders, enhancing their target engagement efficiency and precision.
Rheinmetall’s partnership with Ukraine began in earnest in March 2023 when the company arranged the first delivery of 20 Marder combat vehicles on behalf of the German government. Since then, additional deliveries have consistently followed, each involving double-digit numbers of vehicles.
The company initially began refurbishing Marder 1A3 IFVs from Bundeswehr stocks as early as spring 2022, covering costs at its own expense to ensure the vehicles were ready for immediate deployment. Refurbishment work has taken place at Rheinmetall’s facilities in Unterlüß and Kassel.
The Marder is recognized as one of the most reliable weapon systems of its kind globally, originally developed for the Bundeswehr, where it remains in service to a certain extent. Over the years, the vehicle has undergone several modernization upgrades to enhance its combat performance. The newer Puma IFV has started to replace the Marder in the German armed forces, with over 300 of these advanced vehicles currently in operation.
