Germany has supplied thousands of portable anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons and millions of rounds of ammunition to Ukraine since the Russian invasion.

When it came to heavy weapons, the federal government hesitated for a long time.

The first commitments were only made two months after the start of the war – but nothing has been delivered to the war zone to date.

What Germany promised Ukraine - and why the delivery is taking so long:

Cheetah anti-aircraft tank

At the end of April, the federal government gave the green light for the delivery of 30 decommissioned Gepard anti-aircraft tanks via industry.

They come from the armaments company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), but they have to be repaired.

According to the Federal Ministry of Defense, the first 15 copies should go to Ukraine in mid-July, and the remaining 15 by the end of August.

Industry in Germany is supposed to train Ukrainian soldiers.

The problem is the ammo.

Initially, only around 59,000 shots were ready, which was often criticized as insufficient due to the high firing rate of the anti-aircraft guns.

Howitzer 2000

At the beginning of May, Federal Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) also announced the sale of seven 2000 self-propelled howitzers from Bundeswehr stocks.

On May 11, training of Ukrainian soldiers on howitzers mounted on a tank chassis began in Germany.

It should be completed soon after around 40 days - that would be next week.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the howitzers should then also be made available.

Air defense system Iris-T-SLM

On June 1, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) announced the deployment of the state-of-the-art Iris-T SLM air defense system.

According to him, it can protect "an entire city from Russian air raids".

According to Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens), it will probably only be available in months.

It is apparently about equipment that was originally supposed to go to Egypt.

Tracking radar Cobra

Scholz also announced the delivery of the modern Cobra locating radar on June 1st.

It can be used to spot enemy artillery positions.

With a view to Iris-T and Cobra, Scholz said on Monday that these state-of-the-art weapon systems are in demand around the world.

The federal government must first convince countries that have ordered for a long time “that they are ready to step down”.

Mars II multiple rocket launcher

Germany also wants to deliver four Mars II multiple rocket launchers to Ukraine.

According to the Bundeswehr, the range is up to 84 kilometers, depending on the ammunition.

The rocket launchers are said to come from Bundeswehr stocks and, according to government sources, should be made available by the end of June if possible.

The USA should therefore take over the training on the weapon system.

Panzer ring exchange via NATO partners

Since April, the federal government has also relied on indirect tank deliveries via eastern NATO partners.

Countries like Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Poland and Greece were supposed to deliver weapons from the Soviet era to the Ukraine and receive modern replacements from Germany.

However, there is no information on a ring exchange that has already been completed.