Rheinmetall seeks to purchase Leopard 1 from a Swiss company for Ukraine

Rheinmetall is negotiating the purchase of Leopard 1 tanks with the Swiss company RUAG.

Tagesanzeiger reported about it.

The Germans wish to buy 96 tanks that previously belonged to Italy. RUAG repurchased the Italian Leopard 1 tanks in 2016.

According to the media, the tanks are still stationed in the territory of Italy.

So far, the deal is not possible due to the position of the Swiss government, as Rheinmetall made it clear that the final users of the weapons will be Ukraine.

However, the deal might still take place, Tagesanzeiger writes. A new legal review regarding RUAG’s request to sell tanks is currently being prepared.

A final decision is likely to require a parliamentary vote.

As previously reported, Germany wishes to buy Leopard 2 tanks from Switzerland.

Boris Pistorius, German Defense Minister, and Robert Habeck, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, appealed to Swiss Vice President Viola Amherd to approve the sale of 96 decommissioned Leopard 2 tanks to Rheinmetall.

It is noted that according to the plans of the German government, the tanks planned to be purchased from Switzerland will not be transferred to Ukraine but should strengthen the defense capabilities of European countries.