Deal to swap BMP-1s in Greek arsenal for German-made Marders finalized; former headed to Ukraine

An initial agreement to send 40 Greek army BMP-1s to Ukraine in exchange for a same-number of German-made Marder infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) appears finalized.

According to an announcement on Friday by Greece’s defense ministry, the agreement will proceed as planned.

Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had first discussed the issue of a “swap” of armored personnel carriers, although the prospect appeared to have stalled over the past few months.

The Soviet-designed and Warsaw Pact-made BMP-1 can be immediately deployed by Ukrainian armed forces, given that the specific IFVs are compatible with ammunition and other materiel currently used by that country’s armed forces to fight against an ongoing Russian invasion of the country.

Conversely, Greece will replace its 1980s-era IFVs with more modern and upgraded German armor.

German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht essentially confirmed that the agreement would go ahead, speaking in Berlin on Thursday.