Rheinmetall, Germany's largest armaments manufacturer, said it is planning to boost production of tank materials, notably the Leopard 2, and ammunition as demand grows owing to contributions to Ukraine as well as an increase in stockpiles supplied by Western forces.
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| Rheinmetall tank production and testing plant in Germany |
It is a German company that manufactures the 120 mm cannon for the desired Leopard 2 combat tank. Rheinmetall, a German armaments producer, is planning to drastically boost its production of tank materials and artillery ammunition in order to fulfill increasing demand from Ukraine and Western nations. According to its chairman of the management board, Armin Papperger, it is also in talks with American Lockheed Martin about constructing Himars rocket launcher systems in Germany.
Rheinmetall should not be the only manufacturer engaged in this ramp-up. All leaders of the German armaments industry are due to meet German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius in the coming days. No date known yet but the minister wants this consultation in order to accelerate the acquisition of weapons and to strengthen the supply of ammunition in the long term.
Arms supplies to Kiev, especially the Leopard 2 tank that Olaf Scholz agreed to give to the Ukrainian army, have depleted the German army's stocks. The CEO of Rheinmetall claims to be able to "produce 240,000 pieces a year, which is more than the world demand" for the Leopard 2's 120 millimeter gun. He stated that the production capacity of 155mm artillery pieces might be boosted to 450,000 to 500,000 per year. As a result, the organization would be the largest manufacturer of these two types of ammunition.
Rheinmetall will produce between 60,000 and 70,000 tank and artillery shell components in 2022. With demand for such ammunition skyrocketing since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began in February, Armin Papperger believes production might be boosted rapidly.
Their employment on the battlefield is widespread, and Western militaries are already restocking their own stores in response to what they perceive to be an enhanced danger from Moscow.