Rheinmetall to start servicing tanks in Ukraine in August – Papperger
German defense concern Rheinmetall plans to start servicing tanks in Ukraine in the coming days.
This was stated in an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung by the concern’s CEO Armin Papperger, DW reports.
“We will start the service this month,” he said.
According to him, the first twelve employees from Ukraine have already started their studies in Germany, and another 12 will join them.
It is noted that Germany supplies Leopard tanks to Ukraine, and since the wear and tear of tanks in combat is high, regular maintenance is important, so Rheinmetall is opening a maintenance center in Ukraine for this purpose.
Papperger also confirmed his intention to start production of tanks in Ukraine as soon as possible.
“It can be done quickly, there are enough well-equipped tank factories there (in Ukraine – Ed.) from the Soviet era,” he said.
Rheinmetall, he said, wants to lease them and then produce armored vehicles to NATO standards on one or two production lines.
At some point, Ukraine must become independent in arms production, the head of the German concern emphasized.
“It can’t be that the West is always paying all the bills, and President Zelenskyy also sees it that way,” Papperger said.
What is known about the construction of the Rheinmetall plant in Ukraine
In May, Ukroboronprom established a joint venture with Rheinmetall, a German manufacturer of military equipment and weapons. It will be engaged in the maintenance and repair of tanks and, in the future, their production.
On July 10, Papperger said that the concern would open an armored vehicle manufacturing plant in Ukraine within the next 12 weeks. They plan to build and repair tanks and train Ukrainians to maintain armored vehicles.
According to him, the new plant will build and repair Rheinmetall Fuchs armored personnel carriers under license. The plant will be located in western Ukraine.
Papperger also promised that the plant would be protected from Russian attacks.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zakharova, who said that the Rheinmetall plant for the production of armored vehicles in Ukraine, if built, “will be a legitimate target” for the Russian occupiers.
Rheinmetall responded to Russia’s threats that the concern’s future plant in Ukraine “will be a legitimate target.” They promised to protect the facility with air defense systems of their own production.
