Second Ukrainian air assault brigade acquires German-made fighting vehicle that looks like something out of a science fiction movie | Forbes JAPAN Official Site (Forbes Japan)

The 25th Air Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Air Mobility Forces (Airborne Forces) recently received a heavy combat vehicle. Photos circulating online last week showed it operating a German-made Mulder Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV).

This is the second Air Assault Brigade, following the 82nd Brigade, to acquire the 31-ton Malder from Germany. The 82nd Brigade is on the offensive in southern Ukraine, while the 25th Brigade is on the defensive around Kupyansk in the east.

The Ukrainian military’s air assault brigades used to train by landing on battlefields in helicopters and transport planes. But that’s unrealistic on the front lines of Russia’s 18-year-old war against Ukraine. The air assault brigade thus effectively became a mechanized brigade.

In the 25th Brigade, the Mulder appears to be replacing the BMD-2, a former Soviet-made IFV. This is a major upgrade. The weight of the BMD was kept to 12.5 tons so that it could be transported by air. That means it’s lightweight and small.

But infantry doesn’t need IFVs to be light or small, transporting them to battle locations and disembarking to support them in combat.

Mulder is not a new vehicle. In fact, it is one of the oldest IFVs in the world. German defense company Rheinmetall produced more than 2,000 Marders starting in 1969.

However, Mulder has a good balance of speed, defense, firepower, and abilities, and despite its age, it is still one of the best IFVs in the world. It can carry three crew members and six infantrymen and travel at a speed of approximately 64km/h, following tanks, dismounting infantry during firefights, and supporting infantry with its 20mm cannon.

A soldier with the 82nd Brigade said that compared to the BMP-1 and BMP-2, which like the BMD were Soviet-designed IFVs, the Mulder “looks like Tron.” The BMP-1 and BMP-2 have received a bad reputation for having thin armor and being easily blown away or set on fire when attacked.

The 82nd Brigade’s Mulders have been used in combat in the south since the summer, proving their high survivability. Of the 40 Mulders, the brigade has lost just three.

Fewer losses mean that the additional Mulders can be used not only to cover losses, but also to support new brigades. Germany initially promised to provide 40 Maruders to Ukraine. Half will be procured from the German Army and the rest from Rheinmetall’s surplus vehicles.

However, Rheinmetall says it has 60 more Maruders in good condition this summer and will be able to send them to Ukraine at a rate of 10 a month.explained。

The German government has now committed to providing all 100 available Maruders. It’s unclear how quickly Rheinmetall, the German military, or other forces operating Mulder will be able to secure additional supplies.

A Ukrainian military brigade requires at least 100 IFVs to fully equip a mechanized battalion. The 82nd Brigade supplements its remaining 37 Mulders with U.S.-made Stryker wheeled armored vehicles. It appears that the 25th Brigade, along with Mulder, will continue to use BMP-2s and BMP-1s with upgraded artillery.

（forbes.com Original text）