German authorities allow Rheinmetall to produce weapons in Ukraine
German defense concern Rheinmetall has announced that it is starting to manufacture and repair military equipment in Ukraine.
On Thursday, the German authorities authorized the creation of a joint venture involving Rheinmetall and the Ukrainian state-owned Ukrainian Defense Industry (formerly Ukroboronprom).
This was reported by the BBC.
Later, the German concern published a message on its website describing the details of the deal.
At the first stage, the new joint venture, which will be based in Kyiv, will service and repair the vehicles that Germany has handed over to the Ukrainian army, the statement said.
The German concern does not specify what kind of tanks it is, but Berlin has supplied Ukraine with 18 Leopard 2 tanks and intends to transfer 88 Leopard 1 tanks to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. It also supplied 155-millimeter Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzers and other military equipment.
In July of this year, Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger told CNN in an interview that the concern intends to open an armored vehicle maintenance and production plant in Ukraine within 12 weeks. It is to be located in the western part of the country, Papperger said.
Before that, the concern told the German press that the cost of such a plant would be 200 million. It will be able to produce about 400 tanks a year.
Today’s statement from the German company does not contain any such details, but it does say that “at a later stage” “the partners intend to jointly produce some Rheinmetall products in Ukraine.”
“In the future, cooperation between Rheinmetall and the Ukrainian Defense Industry may also include the joint development of military systems by groups of Ukrainian and German specialists, including for further export from Ukraine,” the company said.
As a reminder, the German concern Rheinmetall will transfer 40 more Marder armored personnel carriers to Ukraine. This will bring the number of Marder machines that Rheinmetall will supply to Ukraine to 80.
