Rheinmetall to build 2 new factories for drones and ammunition near Ukraine
Photo: Rheinmetall to build two new plants near Ukraine (Getty Images)
The German concern Rheinmetall will build two defense plants in Bulgaria for the production of gunpowder, artillery shells, and drones, according to Boyko Borissov, a Bulgarian politician.
The new plant will produce 155 mm artillery shells. In its first year, the newly established enterprise is expected to produce around 100,000 such shells. The construction of a drone manufacturing plant is also under discussion.
Negotiations between the Bulgarian government and Rheinmetall began in March. At that time, it was announced that agreements on the construction of the plants would be submitted to the Bulgarian parliament for ratification in the coming weeks. The investment will amount to about €1 billion.
Rheinmetall
Rheinmetall is a German defense company specializing in the production of armored vehicles, artillery systems, ammunition, air defense systems, as well as electronics and drones. In particular, the company supplies Ukraine with infantry fighting vehicles, tanks, self-propelled guns, ammunition, and air defense systems.
Earlier, Rheinmetall announced the construction of a joint shell production plant in Ukraine. A memorandum on the creation of a joint venture was signed during the Munich Security Conference.
In August, it became known that the German defense company plans to double the capacity of the Ukrainian plant for the production of 155-mm artillery shells.
Initially, it was assumed that the plant would produce 150,000 155-mm artillery shells per year. It is expected that in 1-2 years, the enterprise will be able to reach a volume of 300,000 ammunition rounds annually.
