Ukraine innovates Marder IFVs for advanced battlefield defense
Ukraine has already received 140 Marder 1A3 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) from Germany, with at least 20 more expected. In response to the war's specifics, Ukrainians have modified these vehicles. Here's what they have done.
The Ukrainians highly praise the German-supplied Marder 1A3 IFVs for their superior protection and firing precision compared to the Soviet-era BMP-1/2. However, even Marders can fall victim to FPV drones or Lancet-3s, which necessitated innovations to cause a premature detonation of shaped charges.
In the photos below, you can see the modifications made by soldiers from the 36th Marine Brigade. Notice the deployable net, mesh screens on the sides of the hull, and unusual rods on the upper front plate, likely designed to function similarly to Igelpanzerung mats. Russians have implemented something similar on certain BTRs to guard against simple shaped-charge weapons.
Marder 1A3: A revolutionary and costly relic from the Cold War era
The Schützenpanzer Marder 1 infantry fighting vehicle (from the German "Kuna" for infantry fighting vehicle) debuted in the 1960s as a groundbreaking design alongside its Russian counterpart, the BMP-1.
The introduction of a closed and heavily armed platform, well-armored, was an innovation. Back then, the standard was lightly armored personnel carriers designed primarily to transport soldiers to the battlefield and make quick withdrawals. The novelty in designs such as the Marder 1 or BMP-1 was the ability to actively support transported infantry and, in some instances, engage enemy armored equipment.
The Marder's crew consisted of three soldiers, and the rear part of the vehicle could accommodate seven mechanized infantry grenadiers. A notable feature of this vehicle was the unmanned turret, equipped with a Rheinmetall MK 20 Rh-202 automatic cannon, with a 20 mm caliber and an effective range of up to 1.5 miles. The dual feed from the ammunition belt allowed for rapid switching between explosive and armor-piercing rounds.
The Marder's turret also included an MG3 machine gun and an anti-tank guided missile launcher for the Milan missiles, capable of penetrating up to 27.5 inches of armored steel at a distance of up to 1.2 miles.
This design, still popular today, enhances crew survival if the turret is hit, as they are inside the vehicle's hull. On the other hand, this construction limits access to the weaponry, complicating jam clearances. In such cases, a crew member must exit the armored hull and perform repairs through inspection hatches.
Because of its technological advancement and expense, the Bundeswehr solely used the Marder. Only following the Cold War's end, due to budget cuts in Germany, were some of the 2,000 manufactured units sold. Other units were stored or scrapped in places like a warehouse in Thuringia.
Ukraine received 140 Marders in the modified 1A3 version, which underwent upgrades in the 1990s. These changes involved strengthening the armor and equipping the gunner's sight with a thermal imaging device. As a result, despite its Cold War heritage, this vehicle remains useful on modern battlefields and surpasses its Soviet-era counterparts.
Ukrainian users greatly value the Marders because they offer much greater protection, especially on the sides, so that, for example, large-caliber machine guns like the DSzK or Kord are no longer a threat. Furthermore, in the event of a hit, the crew has a high chance of survival and the opportunity to continue in a new machine.
