Rheinmetall and Lockheed Martin to Expand Cooperation to Boost Missile Production in Europe

The German conglomerate Rheinmetall and the American company Lockheed Martin have agreed to expand their cooperation, aiming to increase the production of missiles and ammunition in Europe.

The German conglomerate announced this on its website.

The companies signed a memorandum that envisions the creation of a European center of excellence for the production and distribution of missiles and missile systems, with the aim of strengthening Europe’s security and independence.

The center of excellence, led by Rheinmetall, will operate primarily in Germany and other European countries.

The companies have already begun identifying the next steps for establishing this center, and the project’s implementation will depend on approval from the U.S. and German governments.

Thanks to this project, the defense companies will join forces to work together in the growing military market for the benefit of their clients: Rheinmetall, with access to the markets of many countries as a leading systems supplier in Europe, and Lockheed Martin, as a leading global manufacturer of missiles and missile systems.

“This is a step toward helping our European customers meet their NATO commitments. By combining Rheinmetall’s extensive experience with Lockheed Martin’s advanced missile technologies, we are creating a strong foundation to meet evolving security demands,” Ray Piselli, Vice President of International Affairs at Lockheed Martin, stated.

In turn, Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger noted that the American company Lockheed Martin and the German company Rheinmetall complement each other well thanks to their specific skills and technological expertise.

“In the growing European market, we aim to play a significant role in the production of missiles and ammunition, for which we see considerable demand. Rheinmetall will be involved not only in sales but also with a substantial share in manufacturing,” he added.

Lockheed Martin has been a partner of German industry for over 50 years and continues to strengthen cooperation with companies like Rheinmetall, which possess advanced technological capabilities.

For example, as part of the international supply chain for the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter jet, Rheinmetall is set to begin production of the first of approximately 400 F-35A center fuselage sections in July 2025.

In 2023, Rheinmetall and Lockheed Martin joined forces to jointly develop the GMARS multiple launch rocket system to meet the growing demand for long-range rocket artillery. It was first unveiled to the public in Paris in the summer of 2024 at the Eurosatory exhibition.