Rheinmetall to produce tens of thousands more munition for Ukraine
Illustrative photo (Getty Images)
German defense conglomerate Rheinmetall has secured an order for the production of additional artillery ammunition for Ukraine, according to Rheinmetall and Defense Express.
Rheinmetall has won a significant order to support Ukraine with artillery ammunition. The technological firm based in Düsseldorf has been tasked to supply Kyiv with artillery shells worth approximately 142 million euros.
The order includes tens of thousands of complete 155mm artillery shells, including the shell, detonator (for explosive charge), powder, and primer (for igniting the powder). The customer is a NATO partner country, whose stated intention is to support Ukraine in its defensive struggle through effective long-term military assistance.
Where the ammunition will be produced
The shells will be manufactured by the recently acquired Spanish subsidiary of Rheinmetall, Expal Munitions. The ammunition is expected to be delivered in 2025. Defense Express reports that it could involve 43,000 shells, considering the price of 3,300 euros per ammunition.
Production and delivery of around 40,000 shells from the previous order to Ukraine are expected to take place in 2024.
Recently, in mid-October 2023, the German government placed an order with Rheinmetall for over 100,000 155mm ammunition intended for Ukraine, as well as additional fragmentation-fuze shells DM 121.
Million shells for Ukraine
At the end of last winter, the Armed Forces of Ukraine were facing a shortage of artillery shells. Therefore, in early May, the EU Council adopted a decision to provide Ukraine with one billion euros for joint procurement of ammunition and missiles. European countries were expected to supply Ukraine with a million shells.
Later, Bloomberg reported that the European Union is falling behind its plan to provide Ukraine with a million artillery shells by March 2024. Currently, it is only 30% fulfilled.
Politico also reported that the U.S. industry is struggling to meet global demand for ammunition and other weaponry, linked to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
