Germany has handed over a significant military aid package to Ukraine, which includes tanks, armored vehicles, air defense systems and a significant number of infantry weapons.

The Federal Ministry of Defence (Germany) reported on this.

Thus, the Armed Forces of Ukraine received 15 Leopard 1 A5 tanks, 30 MRAPs, the sixth IRIS-T SLM air defense system with ammunition and additional IRIS-T SLS launchers. Also, 200 MG4 machine guns and 120 GMG automatic grenade launchers, as well as 80 HLR 338 sniper rifles were delivered.

In addition, the following were transferred:

• ammunition for Leopard 2 and Leopard 1 tanks;
• 2 Kinetic Defense Vehicle air defense systems by Diehl Defense;
• 2 PATRIOT launchers;
• 2 Gepard anti-aircraft systems with spare parts;
• 2 TRML-4D radars;
• AIM-9L/I-1 Sidewinder missiles;
• 52,000 rounds of 155 mm ammunition;
• 15,000 mines of 120 mm caliber;
• 1 Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled artillery system with spare parts;
• 30 Vector reconnaissance drones with spare parts;
• 24 RQ-35 Heidrun reconnaissance drones;
• 14 Hornet XR reconnaissance drones;
• 5 mobile, remote-controlled demining systems and material for the disposal of explosive ordnance;
• 7 Caracal landing vehicles;
• 5 protection systems for helicopters AMPS (Airborne Missile Protection System)
• 45 underwater scooters;
• 1 vehicle for border protection;
• 12 Mercedes-Benz Zetros trucks and 8 Mercedes-Benz Zetros fuel trucks;
• 20,000 rounds of ammunition of 40 mm caliber;
• 4,580 anti-tank mines;
• 420 MK 556 assault rifles and more than 4.3 million rounds of ammunition for firearms;
• 43,000 tourniquets and 1 million compression bandages.

In addition, it was officially announced that additional 20 Marder infantry fighting vehicles and the components for Patriot air defense systems and 4 more Kinetic Defense Vehicle air defense systems will be transferred.

Kinetic Defense Vehicle

The Kinetic Defense Vehicle air defense systems from Diehl Defense are completely new systems about which very little is currently known in the public domain.

However, according to the German publication Hartpunkt, this is a modular drone defense system from Diehl Defense, which was first presented at Enforce TAC 2024.

To detect targets, the combat module is equipped with a radar from the American manufacturer Echodyne and an optoelectronic station from Diehl. The optical system consists of several cameras, which, depending on the configuration, allow passive detection of drones in a sector from 120 to 360 degrees.

Once detected, the radar is used to determine the drone’s flight speed and calculate the bias for the weapon. The system is reportedly capable of shooting down micro drones at a distance of up to 1000 meters.

According to the publication, the configuration to be supplied to Ukraine is likely to be equipped with the R400 remote-controlled combat module from Australian manufacturer Electro Optic Systems, equipped with a 7.62 x 51 mm machine gun. However, these modules can also be equipped with a 127 mm machine gun, a 40 mm grenade launcher, or a 30 mm low-pulse cannon.

The platform for the system is the Enok MBB from the German company ACS Armored Car Systems GmbH, based in Friedberg. It was first shown to the public at the 9th KSK Armament Symposium this year. Only about a week ago, ACS wrote on LinkedIn that MBB vehicles “will soon serve the European army.”

The basis for the platform is the Mercedes-Benz G Series 461 chassis, which is also used to build the Caracal amphibious vehicle. The closed rear cabin provides space for two soldiers and a control console for the combat module.