The German arms concern Rheinmetall has received the largest order in its history – 155-mm artillery ammunition for the Bundeswehr worth €8.5 billion.
The signed contract is aimed at increasing the stockpile of the Bundeswehr and its allies, including Ukraine. Supplies of shells will begin in 2025.
The main buyer will be Germany, which will provide part of the supplies to Ukraine. The Netherlands, Estonia and Denmark are also participating in the order.
The ammunition will be produced at a new plant being built in Germany at the Unterlus site in Lower Saxony. Rheinmetall will provide a full cycle of artillery shell production at this plant. The annual capacity is planned to be 100,000 rounds per year from the second year of production, and then 200,000 per year.
By the end of 2024, Rheinmetall is expected to produce 700,000 rounds of ammunition. New production facilities in Germany, Ukraine, and Lithuania will help the company reach the one million shells target. The new plants are intended to meet the needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Rheinmetall is a German defense concern, one of the largest manufacturers of military equipment and weapons in Germany and Europe. The concern produces, among other things, Panther and Leopard tanks, Marder armored personnel carriers and PzH 2000 howitzers.
