The German company Rheinmetall has set up the repair and maintenance of Marder IFVs in Ukraine, which are in service with the Ukrainian army.

The company’s press service reported on this.

The combat vehicles are being repaired at Rheinmetall’s first joint maintenance and repair center with the Ukrainian Defense Industry JSC, which officially started operating in Ukraine on June 10.

The work of the joint venture will speed up the restoration of Marder IFVs and their return to the front line.

The German company reported that later on, Ukraine will also repair Leopard 1 and Leopard 2 main battle tanks, transferred to the Ukrainian Defense Forces as military aid to counter Russia’s large-scale invasion.

“It is a matter close to our hearts to provide Ukraine with effective and reliable support. When it comes to supplying spare parts, our top priority is to maximize availability and ensure rapid replenishment. To achieve this, we utilize existing channels via original manufacturers, and process material ourselves and with partners. We are also reactivating original supply chains and integrating local production in Ukraine,” Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall AG, noted.

Rheinmetall is utilizing existing local infrastructure but has also brought special tools, spare parts, and other equipment to the hub.

Last year, Ukrainian specialists were trained at Rheinmetall sites in Germany in the repair of combat vehicles.

These personnel then returned to Ukraine and worked there on the maintenance and repair of the relevant systems.

As previously reported, Rheinmetall Ukrainian Defense Industry LLC, a joint venture between the German defense giant Rheinmetall and Ukrainian Defense Industry JSC, was established in October 2023.

The enterprise’s main task will be to repair Western military equipment and, in the future, to produce new ones.

Rheinmetall also plans to establish another joint venture in Ukraine that will specialize in air defense systems.