Germany Takes Steps , to Send 30 Leopard I , Tanks to Ukraine.br 'The Guardian' reports that Germany has ordered br arms manufacturer Rheinmetall to refurbish br 30 Leopard I tanks to be exported to Ukraine.br 'The Guardian' reports that Germany has ordered br arms manufacturer Rheinmetall to refurbish br 30 Leopard I tanks to be exported to Ukraine.br According to a spokesperson, br the timeline for delivery of the tanks br could not be divulged due to contractual reasons.br The CEO of OIP Land Systems, a Belgian-based br private defense company, said that it could take as long br as six months for the tanks to hit the battlefield.br 'The Guardian' reports that CEO Freddy Versluys br previously purchased 50 Leopard 1 tanks that had br been decommissioned by the Belgian government.br The Leopard I was first introduced br to the battlefield in 1965 and has since br been replaced by the Leopard II. .br On August 9, a spokesperson for the German government br said that tanks were part of the military aid package br announced by defense minister Boris Pistorius in July.br At the time, Germany vowed to send br 110 Leopard I tanks to Ukraine as part of br a multi-billion dollar aid package.br The fact that they leave our company br proves that we asked for a fair market br price and someone was more than br happy to take them. I am glad they br will finally join the fight for freedom, Freddy Versluys, CEO of OIP Land Systems, via 'The Guardian'.br 'The Guardian' reports that Versluys previously sold the br UK 46 M113 light armored vehicles, which were exported br to Ukraine as part of another military package.