On 4 January 2024, Germany announced a new aid package for Ukraine, including 10 new Marder 1A3 infantry fighting vehicles. This brings the total number of Marder 1A3 sent by Germany to 90, enough to equip two entire Ukrainian mechanized battalions.
The new German aid to the Ukrainian armed forces includes a series of equipment, but our focus will be on the provided Marders, their technical characteristics, and their utility within the Ukrainian forces.
The Marder is armed with a 20 mm MK 20 Rh202 automatic cannon and a 7.62 mm MG3 coaxial machine gun. It is also equipped with a MILAN anti-tank missile launcher, enabling it to engage armored targets from a distance. With standard protection against small arms fire of 7.62 mm caliber and shell splinters and an enhanced armor package in its 1A3 version capable of resisting 30 mm cannon ammunition, the Marder offers increased safety to its occupants compared to its predecessors.
These vehicles weigh 33,500 kg and can reach a maximum speed of 65 km/h, with a range of about 500 km. They are equipped with passive night vision devices, thermal sights, an air conditioning system, and NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) protection. The Marder can carry a crew of three and six infantrymen, with dimensions of 6.88 meters in length, 3.38 meters in width, and 3.015 meters in height.