Rheinmetall to build a new ammunition plant

German defense giant Rheinmetall will build a new ammunition plant to ensure uninterrupted supplies to Ukraine.

Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger announced this in his interview with BILD.

In response to the German federal government’s accusations of insufficient support for Ukraine, Papperger emphasized the good cooperation between the government and the arms industry.

“A lot has changed for the better in military procurement. Last year, Rheinmetall alone received orders or framework agreements from the federal government worth more than €10 billion for the Bundeswehr and Ukraine. This year, this amount will increase to at least €15 billion,” said the Rheinmetall CEO.

Papperger also said that the concern is building a new plant to fulfill contracts and ensure uninterrupted supply of ammunition on time.

“The pace is fast: what would have taken ten years before is now achieved in a few months. We will now build a new ammunition plant in Germany in record time to create strategic security of supply,” he said.

Aside from the location, he did not provide any other details about the project, so the timing of the opening and start of operations remains unknown.

Increasing the supply of ammunition

On January 28, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced that an additional contract for the supply of ammunition would be signed in the new year.

“We have signed new framework contracts for more than 200,000 additional artillery munitions this year alone,” Pistorius said.

He also noted that the federal government depends on the arms industry in the case of ammunition supplies.

“The industry is trying incredibly hard, but it is still in pre-war mode. Obviously, it’s not that simple.”

Rheinmetall AG has completed its takeover of all shares in Spain’s Expal Systems to expand ammunition production to meet growing orders. The concern plans to produce 700,000 155mm artillery shells by the end of the year.