THE UKRAINE MILITARY’S ARMORED DIVISION IS ABOUT TO GET A HUGE BOOST. THE U.S. AND GERMANY ARE SENDING ARMORED FIGHTING VEHICLES, AND THERE’S A WAVE OF SUPPORT IN FINLAND TO GIVE UKRAINE ARGUABLY THE BEST TANK IN THE WORLD, GERMAN-MADE LEOPARD 2s.

THE U.S. PLEDGED TO DELIVER 50 ARMORED BRADLEY FIGHTING VEHICLES TO UKRAINE. THE BRADLEY IS NOT A TANK, BUT IT OFTEN GETS MISTAKEN FOR ONE. THE BRADLEY HAS A 25 MILLIMETER MAIN GUN MOUNTED ON TOP, AND LIKE THE ABRAMS TANK, RIDES ON TREADS. OUT OF ALL THE VEHICLES UKRAINE RECEIVED FROM THE WEST,  BRADLEY’S HAVE THE MOST PROTECTION AND SOME OF THE BEST FIREPOWER.

UKRAINE WILL NO DOUBT USE THE BRADLEYS TO CARRY TROOPS AND EQUIPMENT TO AND FROM BATTLEFIELDS. BUT BRADLEYS ARE DESIGNED TO KEEP PACE WITH TANKS. PAIRED WITH TOW ANTI-TANK MISSILES, A TEAM OF BRADLEY’S CAN MAKE QUICK WORK OF ENEMY TANKS, WHICH IS WHY THE BRADLEY EARNED THE NICKNAME “TANK KILLER.”

IN COORDINATION WITH THE U.S., GERMANY IS ALSO SENDING UKRAINE AROUND 40 MARDER INFANTRY FIGHTING VEHICLES. THE MARDER’S 20 MILLIMETER CANON IS SMALLER THAN THE BRADLEY’S, BUT IT’S ARMOR AND MANEUVERABILITY ARE JUST AS GOOD IF NOT BETTER.

SO FAR, THE U.S. AND GERMANY HAVE RESISTED CALLS FROM UKRAINE TO SEND MAIN BATTLE TANKS LIKE THE ABRAMS OR LEOPARD 2.

FINLAND, ON THE OTHER HAND, SAYS IT’S TIME UKRAINE GETS MODERN TANKS.

LAST WEEK, THE FINNISH DEFENSE MINISTER SAID THE COUNTRY IS PREPARED TO SEND AN UNDISCLOSED NUMBER OF LEOPARD 2s TO HELP UKRAINE FEND OFF RUSSIAN FORCES.  THE LEOPARD 2 IS MADE IN GERMANY, BOASTS A 120 MILLIMETER SMOOTHBORE MAIN GUN WITH AN EFFECTIVE RANGE OF 2000 METERS, AND HAS SOME OF THE MOST ADVANCED ARMOR EVER CREATED.

WHILE SUPPORT WITHIN FINLAND IS GROWING BY THE DAY TO SEND UKRAINE THE LEOPARD 2 TANKS, THE RULES GOVERNING INTERNATIONAL ARMS SALES REQUIRE FINLAND TO GET PERMISSION FROM GERMANY BEFORE MAKING THE TRANSACTION.

IF YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SOME OF THE WEAPONS SYSTEMS AND VEHICLES HEADED TO UKRAINE, THE STRAIGHT ARROW TEAM AND I HAVE YOU COVERED. ALL YOU NEED TO DO, IS VISIT STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS DOT COM