German Ringtausch continues as Greece swaps ex-GDR armour for Marders
Six Marders were delivered in October by Rheinmetall to the Hellenic Army, with 34 more due by the end of 2023. (Photo: Hellenic Army General Staff)
The first Marder 1A3 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) supplied by Rheinmetall to Greece under the Ringtausch scheme were presented as part of a parade of the Hellenic Armed Forces (HAF) during a national holiday on 28 October in Thessaloniki.
The HAF are in turn donating 162 Soviet-era BMP-1 IFVs and other military equipment to Ukraine and are receiving the 40 Marders in exchange. The BMP-1s were supplied by Berlin to Greece after the end of the Cold War and originally equipped the army of the former East Germany.
In addition to the Marders, ammunition, an integrated service package including training and spare parts will be provided by the German Armed Forces and Rheinmetall. Deliveries are due to be complete by the end of 2023.
The vehicles provided are overhauled Marder 1A3s from former German Army stocks. They have been repaired by Rheinmetall Landsysteme at the company's own expense since spring 2022 and are ready for immediate use upon delivery. The first vehicles left Rheinmetall's site at Unterlüß on 11 October en route to Greece.
According to Shephard Defence Insight, Greece has a requirement for a new 8x8 wheeled IFV to replace legacy tracked vehicles, but no formal programme has been launched yet. It is unclear what the impact of the Marder deliveries will be on this requirement.
In September, Shephard reported that the German government had opted not to supply the 40 Marders directly to Ukraine despite requests for them from Kyiv.
Rheinmetall is also involved in Ringtausch exchanges with the Czech and Slovak armed forces, supplying them with Leopard 2A4 tanks.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
DSEI 2025: Avon Protection provides first sight of new goggle and details on half mask
Avon Protection has been growing and improving its integrated systems offerings. Last year the company released its Exoskin total protective suit system and earlier this year the MITR-M1 half mask.
-
DSEI 2025: Elbit Systems set to field joint fires systems as it looks to large UK requirements
Elbit Systems UK was awarded the Dismounted Joint Fires Integrators (D-JFI) programme in January 2021, which will integrate with the UK’s army, marines and air force. The parent company has decades of heritage in the UK and is looking to compete for the Watchkeeper drone replacement.
-
DSEI 2025: Milrem’s Havoc 8×8 robot to undergo live firing trials next year
The Havoc uncrewed ground vehicle (UGV) was unveiled at IDEX 2025 in February. It is built around a hybrid electric powertrain which provides silent running over medium distances and silent watch for extended periods of time.