German Arms Manufacturer Rheinmetall to Collaborate with Ukraine
The Federal Antimonopoly Office of Germany has granted permission to the Rheinmetall Group, a German arms conglomerate, to establish a joint defence enterprise in Ukraine with the Ukrainian state group "Ukrainian Defence Industry" (formerly "Ukroboronprom"). This announcement was made by Rheinmetall's press office.
Rheinmetall, the German arms manufacturer, has also submitted applications to other federal authorities and expects positive responses from them in the near future.
The enterprise will be based in Kyiv and will be engaged in servicing and technical maintenance, as well as assembly, production, and development of military transport vehicles. In the initial phase of cooperation, the focus will be on the technical maintenance and repair of equipment received by Ukraine from Germany and other partners. Subsequently, joint production of specific defence products in Ukraine is envisaged.
"In the future, cooperation may include joint development of military systems by teams of Ukrainian and German experts, including for further export by Ukraine," the Rheinmetall Group added.
Recall that on March 30, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with a delegation from the Rheinmetall Group, led by CEO Armin Papperger, in Kyiv. Later, "Ukroboronprom" signed a strategic partnership agreement with the German conglomerate. In May, Papperger announced that factory workers would build and repair Rheinmetall Fuchs armoured vehicles under licence at a new plant.
At the beginning of July, the plant's CEO stated that the facility would be formally opened within the next 12 weeks.
Rheinmetall is one of the world's largest defence conglomerates, producing weaponry for the Bundeswehr and serving as the main supplier of 120mm tank ammunition for the German armed forces.
As previously reported by The Gaze, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Maria Zakharova warned that if Rheinmetall were to construct a plant on Ukrainian territory, it would be considered a legitimate military target for Russian armed forces.
In response to the statement by the Russian diplomat, Rheinmetall's CEO emphasized that the company would by no means abandon its intentions to build a facility in Ukraine. Additionally, Armin Papperger intends to protect the plant using Rheinmetall's own air defence systems (AD systems).
"For Rheinmetall, it is of paramount importance to support our Ukrainian partners in their struggle for freedom and democracy and promptly meet their urgent needs," Papperger stressed.