Ukraine is going to put on the market the first samples of a new battle tank manufactured on the territory of Ukraine, the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov said, reports CNN.

Oleksiy Reznikov, Minister of Defense of Ukraine, at the tripartite meeting Romania – Ukraine – Republic of MoldovaPhoto: Agerpres

Reznikov published a video of a test drive of the new Ukrainian tank “Oplot”, noting: “It’s always nice to test equipment that goes to the front line. But if we talk about Ukrainian equipment, it is many times more pleasant.”

“I am convinced that a Ukrainian tank like Oplot should be at the forefront of the tank coalition,” he said.

Oplot was built in Kharkiv by the state arms manufacturer Ukroboronprom based on the Soviet T-84 tank.

Western analysts say it is fast and maneuverable and has more advanced fire control and armor protection than previous versions.

Reznikov did not say how many will be produced.

Ukraine requested battle tanks from the West at the end of last year and at the beginning of 2023. Ukraine was promised American Abrams M1 tanks, British Challenger and Leopard, but logistics, preparation and delivery take a long time. Training on Abrams tanks is planned to begin this month, and training of Ukrainian servicemen on other vehicles has already been completed.

Meanwhile, a Center for Strategic and International Studies report last month said Russia had lost up to 3,500 tanks. Western officials said that T-55 tanks, introduced in 1948, are now appearing on the battlefield.

“Ukroboronprom” will build tanks together with Rheinmetall

In other news, Rheinmetall has just established a joint venture with Ukrainian state conglomerate Ukroboronprom to build and repair tanks in Ukraine, the daily Handelsblatt reported on Friday, citing an executive director of the German arms maker.

“The contracts have been signed,” Executive Director Armin Papperger told Handelsblatt, adding that the cooperation will concern the maintenance and repair of armored vehicles in Ukraine, while the construction of tanks will be prepared in parallel.

Rheinmetall will hold a majority stake of 51 percent in the new company and provide management, Handelsblatt added.

According to Handelsblatt, the German company expects to sign contracts in the coming days for two more joint ventures – for ammunition and air defense.

“Ukraine will benefit from comprehensive technology transfer as well as short-term supplies of military equipment from Germany,” Papperger told Handelsblatt.