The arms company Rheinmetall is massively expanding its production capacity for the production of artillery shells and has ambitious plans for the next year.
Rheinmetall is scaling up the production of artillery shells for Ukraine
The Rheinmetall defence concern continues to increase the production of artillery ammunition, and by 2025, it wants to reach the figure of 700,000 pieces per year.
The CEO of Rheinmetall stated this, Armin Papperger, reports Handelsblatt.
We are doubling or even tripling our gunpowder production capacity in specific locations, such as those required for propellant charges for artillery shells.
Armin Papperger
CEO of Rheinmetall
By next year, Rheinmetall will be able to produce enough products to supply Europe.
According to Papperger, by 2025, the concern wants to produce up to 700,000 artillery shells annually.
In addition to the plants in Spain and Hungary, the core of the expansion will be the Rheinmetall plant in Unterluss in Lower Saxony.
Support for Ukraine is gaining momentum
Papperger planned to launch the production expansion on February 12 with Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The chancellor previously lobbied for new aid to Ukraine in the US.
Ukraine's support there is under threat of weakening due to internal political conflicts between Democrats and Republicans.
From Papperger's point of view, this could become a severe problem for the security of Europe.
We and Ukraine need Americans who have large reserves.
Increased ammunition production in Europe
Recently, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that Europe has tripled the production of shells for Ukraine. But it was not possible to reach the goal of one million.
Also, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radoslav Sikorsky, stated that Poland is considering producing more ammunition to help Ukraine.
Norway announced the allocation of more than 90 million dollars to increase the production of ammunition and develop the potential of the country's defence industry.
