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(Bloomberg) —
Ukraine’s allies have provided more than 4,000 armored vehicles, artillery pieces, aircraft and other weapon systems to help Kyiv fight Russia, and now NATO’s most powerful members are sending main battle tanks — the alliance’s best weapons designed to destroy other tanks and take back territory from the enemy.
After weeks of foot-dragging, Germany pledged on Wednesday to supply Ukraine with more than 100 Leopard 2 battle tanks in a joint effort with European allies, ending a dispute that tested the unity of NATO states. The US also announced it will supply 31 Abrams main battle tanks in a deal with $400 million, while the UK said earlier this month that it would send comparable Challenger 2s.
Here is a breakdown of some of the main systems that Ukraine has received, according to Oryx, a Dutch open-source defense analysis website, as well as announcements from Ukraine’s allies. The numbers are approximations and couldn’t be independently verified by Bloomberg. They may include items pledged but not delivered, and other items not included may have been delivered but not made public.
Tanks
- 410 modernized Soviet-era tanks delivered by NATO members in former communist bloc, including Poland, Czech Republic and Slovenia.
- 14 UK Challenger 2 tanks, the first Western-made main battle tanks pledged to Ukraine.
- 112 Leopard 2 tanks to be provided by Germany and other European countries. The first batch of 14 that will come from existing German stocks could arrive in Ukraine within three months.
- 31 US M1 Abrams tanks — President Joe Biden said the delivery would take time, but didn’t say how much.
Armored/Infantry Fighting Vehicles
- More than 400 in all, including 250 Soviet-designed IFVs from former communist states.
- France was the first to pledge western-made NATO-standard fighting vehicles by announcing an unspecified number of AMX-10RC wheeled tank destroyers.
- 109 US-made M2A2 Bradley Fighting vehicles, which are equipped with guided anti-tank missiles.
- 40 German-made Marder Infantry Fighting Vehicles
- 50 Swedish CV9040 tracked IFVs
IFVs can transport troops and provide close attack support, including against enemy tanks. David Perkins, a retired US four-star general, said Bradleys would be “more than a match” for the T-72s that make up the bulk of Russia’s tank fleet.
Armored Personnel Carriers
- More than 1,400 in all, including 300 US M113 troop carriers and 250 M117s.
- More than 160 US-made M113s from seven other countries including the UK, Lithuania, Australia, Germany, Denmark, Portugal and Spain.
- 90 US-made Strykers, wheeled armored vehicles that can carry a variety of armaments from mortars to large 105-milimeter guns.
- 100 armored vehicles from the UK, including tracked Bulldogs.
- Several hundred other vehicles, including armored medical treatment centers.
Distinct from Infantry Fighting Vehicles, these armored transports can carry forces on the battlefield, but they have lighter weapons such as heavy machine guns that are mainly used for self defense.
Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicles
- About 925 in all, including 440 US M1224 MaxxPros.
- 90 Australian Bushmasters and a number of UK Wolfhounds and Mastiffs.
These vehicles are similar to APCs but are specifically designed with angled hulls to protect occupants against mines and improvised explosive devices.
Infantry Mobility Vehicles
- More than 2,100, including including 1,608 US-made High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles, or Humvees.
These wheeled personnel carriers — usually armored — move soldiers around the battlefield in attack, reconnaissance and patrol roles.
Artillery
- More than 350 towed howitzers.
- Of those, more than 220 155mm M777s and 72 105mm Howitzers from the US and allies.
- 400+ pieces of self-propelled artillery, of which 180 are on order.
- Of those, more than 20 155mm howitzers from Britain, and 18 each from Poland, Germany and the US, among others.
Multiple Rocket Launchers
- More than 100 in all.
- 38 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, known as HIMARS, made by US-based Lockheed Martin.
- 40+ 122mm communist-era multiple rocket launchers from Poland and the Czech Republic.
One of the most potent weapons for Ukraine, HIMARS allow for accurate, long-range strikes. Ukraine has used them mainly to destroy Russian ammunition dumps and command and control centers, as well as troop assembly points.
Anti-Air Systems
- 37 German Gepard self-propelled tanks.
- Eight US-made NASAMS missile batteries.
- 4 Patriot missile batteries, of which one from the US, one from Germany and two from the Netherlands.
- Six Strela-10Ms rocket systems from the Czech Republic.
- Six Stormer HVMs from the UK.
- A handful of other surface-to-air missile systems from Slovakia, Germany, Spain, France and Poland.
The German Gepards are self-propelled tanks that can shoot down low-flying cruise missiles, while the rocket systems can hit airborne targets at higher altitudes. In December, both the US and Germany said they would each donate a Patriot missile battery — the most advanced Western anti-aircraft system that can target shorter-range ballistic missiles of the type that could carry a tactical nuclear warhead, a threat that Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested is an option.
Aircraft
- 14 Russian-made Su-25 ground-attack jets purchased bought by NATO states and delivered to Ukraine.
- Four Su-25s from North Macedonia.
- 20 Russian-made Mi17 helicopters originally destined for Afghanistan donated by the US.
- 11 Soviet-designed helicopters from the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Latvia.
- Three UK Westland Sea Kings.
- Six Russian-made Kamov helicopters from Portugal.
- 30+Bayraktar TB2 drones from Turkey, plus one each from Lithuania and Poland.
- More than 2,200 US Switchblade, Phoenix Ghost, and other loitering munition systems.
- 415 reconnaissance drones.
Long-Range Missiles
- No one has agreed to Kyiv’s request for the long-range guided Army Tactical Missile System, known as ATACAMS, which can hit targets with at much further distances than HIMARS.
Some Western officials have voiced concerns about giving Ukrainian forces more potential to strike targets deep inside Russia, as it could lead to a direct confrontation with Moscow.
Others
- Other items include missiles that can be used against enemy radar, ships, and surface targets, as well as electronic warfare equipment, unmanned waterborne vessels, radar equipment and other systems.
(Updates with pledge of US tank deliveries.)
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