Canada deploys three Leopard 2 simulators in Poland to train Ukrainian Armed Forces

Canada has deployed three Leopard 2 training simulators in Poland to train servicemen of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The announcement was made on Friday by Anita Anand, Minister of National Defense of Canada.

The simulators are designed for training tank crew members, in particular, to work out the main elements of the loader, tank commander and gunner.

“In addition to the eight Leopard 2 tanks that we delivered to Poland, Canada has deployed three Leopard simulators to help train Ukrainian crews to operate with tanks and their tactics,” Anand said.

She stressed that Canadian support for Ukraine was versatile and would continue.

Also yesterday, Anita Anand said that all eight Leopard 2 tanks were delivered to Poland, which Canada had promised to transfer to Ukraine to confront the Russian invasion.

“All eight Leopard 2 battle tanks promised by Canada for Ukraine have now arrived in Poland. We’ll continue to stand with Ukraine, and to provide Ukrainians with the tools that they need to fight and win this war,” Anand wrote on Twitter.

In early February, the first Canadian Leopard 2A4 for Ukraine arrived in Poland. It was sent by military transport aircraft C-17 from Halifax. In addition, military instructors came to Europe from Canada to train Ukrainian tank crews.

The implementation of plans to transfer Western tanks to the Armed Forces of Ukraine began after Germany abandoned concerns about the supply of Leopard 2 to Ukraine and agreed to re-export these tanks from other countries. NATO countries coordinate actions among themselves, determining the specific number of tanks that each country can provide.

In January, Canada joined the tank coalition and promised the Ukrainian army four Leopard tanks. Later it became known that they would transfer twice as much.

The Canadian Armed Forces partnered with Polish Armed Forces to instruct Ukrainian recruits in Leopard tank fundamentals in western Poland.

Video has been digitally altered due to operational security. pic.twitter.com/FcMu5dbDbZ

— Canadian Joint Operations Command (@CJOC_COIC) February 27, 2023

Ukrainian tankers are being trained on Leopard 2 in Poland under the UNIFIER training mission, which was launched by Canada.

Ottawa also provides Kyiv with spare parts and ammunition for these tanks.