New Heavy Weapons from Western Allies Arrive in Ukraine

On July 25, the heavy weapons promised by Western allies finally started to arrive in Ukraine.

3 German self-propelled anti-aircraft guns – Gepards, six Stormer HVM anti-aircraft missile systems from the UK, and some Polish Twardy tanks have been put at the disposal of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Also, up to 30 American M142 HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems are currently on the way to Ukraine.

In addition, on national T.V. Ukraine’s Defense Minister, Oleksiy Reznikov, announced agreements on the Ukrainian military’s use of international partners’ training grounds.

“I can say that Germany’s first three Gepards officially arrived… These are anti-aircraft missile systems and ammunition. We expect to get 15 Gepards, three have arrived in Ukraine today, and are already at the disposal of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” Reznikov said.

Gepard is a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun that covers ground forces and destroys air targets. The turret, which can rotate 360 ​​degrees, is equipped with two 35 mm cannons, a 7.62 mm MG-3 machine gun, and two search and tracking radars. Designed to protect armored columns on the march as well as stationary objects from attacks by helicopters and aircraft at low and ultra-low altitudes, day and night, in all weather conditions and in conditions of intense enemy electronic countermeasures.

Also, on July 25, the head of the President’s Office, Andriy Yermak, announced on Telegram that Polish PT-91 Twardy tanks had arrived in Ukraine. However, the exact number is unknown.

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The PT-91 Twardy is a Polish-made battle tank based on a licensed version of the Soviet T-72M1. The prototypes were made in 1993. The basic version of the PT-91 was mass-produced at the Bumar-Labedy plant from 1995 to 2002 with a total of 232 PT-91s produced for the Polish Armed Forces.

The tank is equipped with protection using ERAWA’s active armor. This functional armor consists of almost 400 protective blocks that cover the front of the hull and turret with almost no gaps between them.

The first six Stormer HVM anti-aircraft missile systems from Britain have arrived in Ukraine and are already at the front, the Southern Operational Command reported on its Facebook page on July 25.

The main feature of this air defense system is its ability to guide missiles to a target in semi-automatic mode using a laser beam.

The Stormer does not have a radar system, so it remains invisible to airborne radar radiation sensors on enemy helicopters and airplanes.

British “invisible” Stormer HVM air defense systems recognize enemy attack aircraft at a distance of up to 18 kilometers,” the Ukrainian military stated.

On July 23, following the meeting of President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, with the House of Representatives of the US Congress, it was announced that the number of American M142 HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems and similar MLRS systems that the US and allies would supply to Ukraine would be increased to 25-30 units.