Reuters: Germany's Rheinmetall Defence Group Receives Major Artillery Shell Order from Ukraine
According to Reuters, the shipment primarily consists of 155mm howitzer shells compatible with various NATO-standard artillery systems, with the contract value amounting to several tens of millions of euros. All ammunition must be fully delivered before the first quarter of next year.
The production of these munitions will be handled by Expal Munitions, a Spanish subsidiary of Rheinmetall. Production lines have already been activated. The revenue from this order will be included in Rheinmetall’s financial statements for Q2 2026.
This order exemplifies Rheinmetall’s comprehensive expansion of production capacity for NATO-standard munitions. In response to the massive consumption on the Ukrainian battlefield, Rheinmetall is rapidly expanding production facilities across Europe:
Germany (Domestic): The new ammunition factory in Unterlüß, Lower Saxony, has already started operations. This facility represents a substantial investment and is expected to reach an annual output of 140,000 rounds by 2026, with plans to achieve full-scale annual capacity of 350,000 155mm artillery shells starting in 2027.
Spain Facility: By acquiring Expal Systems, Rheinmetall’s plant in Spain is expected to reach an annual capacity of 450,000 rounds, making it the largest ammunition production facility of its kind in Europe.
Ukrainian Localization: Rheinmetall is also constructing ammunition and propellant plants within Ukraine. Its first factory is already operational, aiming to shorten delivery cycles and enable local resupply.
Rheinmetall aims to increase the total annual output of 155mm artillery shells to approximately 1.5 million rounds by 2030.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1869481036781578/
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