The German defense concern Rheinmetall is constructing a new factory to produce ammunition.

DW reported this.

The enterprise will produce medium-caliber ammunition, including for Gepard SPAAGs, which Germany handed over to Ukraine to strengthen air defense.

It is noted that the construction of the plant began after Switzerland twice refused to re-export ammunition to Ukraine in response to Berlin’s request.

The new lines to produce medium-caliber ammunition should be ready in January.

According to Rheinmetall’s representative, the main goal of the new production line is to restore the supply of ammunition to the German Armed Forces, which would be independent of foreign production facilities.

Therefore, a decision was made to launch domestic production of 20-35 mm ammunition.

Manufacturing activity at the new plant will start in June 2023, and in July, Rheinmetall would be able to deliver the first batch of the Gepard SPAAG ammunition. If the German government would submit the corresponding order to the manufacturer, Ukraine would then be able to receive up to 300,000 rounds of ammunition, the representative of the concern shared.

The exact site where the new plant is being constructed was not publicly announced.

The publication notes that Gepard SPAAGs became the first type of heavy weapon that Germany promised to transfer to Ukraine. By the end of September, 30 anti-aircraft guns were delivered to Kyiv.

At first, the military was supplied with 60,000 35-mm shells, but due to the high rate of ammunition consumption, this turned out to be not enough. Ukraine needs more shells to fight Russian missile attacks and to destroy Iranian-made kamikaze drones.

In November, it was reported that Rheinmetall, after acquiring the world-famous Spanish ammunition manufacturer Expal Systems SA, plans to set up production of 35-mm ammunition for Gepard anti-aircraft guns.