Germany's plan to deliver 400 MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicles to Ukraine has been substantially delayed, according to the German newspaper Bild on 22 April 2024. The German Defence Minister, Boris Pistorius, announced on 19 March that Germany would supply Ukraine with 100 'protected infantry vehicles', later specifying that these were indeed MRAPs, with delivery scheduled by 2024.
A contract worth EUR 315 million (around USD 336 million) was signed between Ukraine and the German company Flensburger Fahrzeugbau GmbHwith funding from Berlin, to supply the 400 vehicles. Originally, the company was supposed to deliver 20 MRAPs per month from January to October 2024, for a total of 200 vehicles in ten months. However, none of these deliveries have been realised so far.
A representative of the ministry confirmed to Bild that no MRAPs have been delivered yet, and that deliveries are now scheduled in several stages during 2024. In addition, the delivery plan has been changed and currently calls for the delivery of only 100 MRAPs over the course of the year, with the start date moved from January to May. A classified document quoted by the newspaper specifies that the 100 vehicles promised by Pistorius in March should start to be transferred from June.
The delays are presumably related to the production of the MRAPs. Flensburger Fahrzeugbau does not produce the main components but imports them from the United States. The 400 vehicles are modified versions of BATT UMG armoured vehicles produced by The Armored Group, a US company.
The ministry stated that the delivery delays were due to 'restrictive US export permits to Germany'. Unofficially, it was said that the level of mine protection of the vehicles has yet to be certified. Meanwhile, the company informed Bild that the level of protection of the MRAPs had already been certified, but is now 'under review'.
