United to win: Rheinmetall to supply thousands of weapons to Ukraine by 2024-2025

Rheinmetall, a leading German arms manufacturer, is currently one of Ukraine's leading military equipment suppliers. They have promised to provide Ukraine's armed forces with significant ammunition and armored vehicles this year and the next one.

According to the press release on the manufacturer's website, the company summarized what was done and drew up plans for the future.

Today, Rheinmetall is the only defense contractor capable of supplying the Ukrainian military with a large number of new medium- and large-caliber ammunition, including 20 mm for the Marder BMP, 40 mm, as well as 105 mm for the Leopard 1 and 120 mm for the Leopard 2.

By the end of 2023, 40,000 of the total 300,000 35 mm cartridges for the Gepard anti-aircraft systems were also manufactured and delivered.

In addition, Rheinmetall is an important strategic partner of Ukraine in supplying 155-mm artillery ammunition – several tens of thousands of shells have already been delivered, and tens of thousands more will be delivered in 2024. In December 2023, the German government also ordered the supply of several tens of thousands of cartridges in 2025.

In addition to Germany, another NATO member country instructed Rheinmetall to supply Ukraine with 155-mm ammunition. The projectiles will be manufactured by the Spanish manufacturer Rheinmetall Expal Munitions and delivered in 2025.

The company recalls that in October 2023, Rheinmetall established a joint venture in Kyiv with the Ukrainian state company Ukroboronprom JSC — Rheinmetall Ukrainian Oboronprom LLC, which already carries out maintenance and repair work on military equipment.

In the second phase, Ukraine also plans to produce armored vehicles, such as Fuchs/Fox armored personnel carriers, Lynx infantry fighting vehicles, and Panther main battle tanks.

"The goal is to turn Ukraine into an effective partner, restore its once powerful defense sector, and ensure its strategic autonomy," the German company notes.

Until the end of 2023, the Rheinmetall company delivered more than 100 Marder infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine. Further deliveries in the "double-digit range" will take place in 2024.

Rheinmetall signed a contract to supply Ukraine with 25 Leopard 1A5 main battle tanks, five armored recovery vehicles, and two Leopard 1 tanks for training. Delivery is planned for 2024.

Rheinmetall supplies 14 Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks on behalf of the Dutch and Danish governments. Two of these battle tanks have already been handed over to Ukraine's armed forces. The rest of the vehicles will be handed over this year.

The company also provides services in the field of air defense (the Skynex complex, designed for air defense operations at a very close range, where guided missiles are ineffective). The use of programmable 35-mm Ahead airburst ammunition, developed by Rheinmetall for this purpose, is much cheaper than similar systems based on guided missiles, and it is also impossible to affect 35-mm projectiles or repel them with electronic countermeasures, the company emphasizes.

The Skynex systems are being installed on new Rheinmetall HX 8×8 swap body trucks, hundreds of which have already been delivered by the Bundeswehr. Last year, the first Skynex system was handed over to Ukraine's armed forces.

"The supply of Skynex systems will continue throughout 2024," the company promises.

Manufactured by Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles, the HX trucks are among the most widely used military vehicles worldwide, with a global reputation for durability, off-road mobility, ease of use, and modularity that sets them apart from their industry competitors. Today, about 100 Rheinmetall trucks are already in operation in Ukraine, and 26 brand-new ones were recently delivered directly from the factory.

Rheinmetall also provides repair and maintenance services both on the territory of third countries and directly in Ukraine.

In cooperation with the German government, a Rheinmetall Mobile Systeme GmbH group subsidiary handed over a turnkey field hospital to the Ukrainian military in August 2023. It includes 32 patient beds, eight for intensive care, and state-of-the-art medical and intensive care equipment. In August 2023, ten Ukrainian service members underwent a 14-day training in Germany, where they learned to assemble, disassemble, and manage a mobile field hospital.

In addition, Rheinmetall handed over a rescue station (NATO Role 1 standard) to Ukraine in December 2023. The second rescue station will appear in the first quarter of 2024.

Another field of activity is the assistance of SurveilSPIRE mobile reconnaissance systems. They can scout and fight enemy drones. The systems include mobile surveillance towers with day and night vision cameras, mini-drones with autopilot, and a command and control system. Ten SurveilSPIREs have already been delivered. The German government has ordered the delivery of new intelligence systems. Rheinmetall is working with an Estonian partner company on these systems.

Large deliveries of military equipment and extensive logistical support make Rheinmetall Ukraine the most important partner of the defense industry in the fight against Russian aggression. Thanks to its vast production capacity, the technology enterprise in Dusseldorf cannot only produce vital products like ammunition but also use its broad portfolio of technologies to help Ukraine in its fight against the aggressor.

For reference:

The Federal Antimonopoly Office of Germany allowed Rheinmetall to create a joint venture with Ukraine at the end of September.

It was reported that the company will be based in Kyiv.

Rheinmetall noted that the Kremlin's threats to intensify the bombing of Ukraine will not affect the intentions of the German arms company to build a tank factory in Ukraine.

It was previously reported that the German company Rheinmetall is negotiating the construction of a tank factory in Ukraine.

It is important to note that Rheinmetall is actively helping Ukraine in the war against Russia by supplying ammunition and various equipment. In particular, the concern recently received a new order for artillery shells for Ukraine.

Moreover, the German defense concern Rheinmetall and the "Ukrainian Defense Industry" officially announced the creation of a joint venture to repair and maintain combat equipment transferred by Germany and other Western partners.

​