03/12/2024 | Story
Rheinmetall: A powerful partner at Ukraine’s side
Story dated 20.07.2023
Updated 03.12.2024
Major deliveries of military material and extensive logistical support make Rheinmetall Ukraine's most important defence industry partner in the fight against Russian aggression. The company and Ukraine, represented by the Minister for Strategic Industries, Oleksandr Kamyshin, signed a memorandum of understanding to expand their strategic cooperation during the "Ukraine Recovery Conference 2024" in Berlin. The agreement aims to identify and develop further areas for closer cooperation between the Ukrainian defense industry and the Düsseldorf-based technology group.
Specific projects in the pipeline include the manufacture of artillery ammunition and the supply and production of Lynx infantry fighting vehicles. In addition to possible direct deliveries by Rheinmetall, the (re)industrialisation of national manufacturing know-how is also intended to make a significant contribution to Ukraine's sustainable defence capability as part of the cooperation. Rheinmetall had already founded the joint venture Rheinmetall Ukrainian Defence Industry LLC with a Ukrainian state-owned company in October 2023. Ukrainian specialists were trained in Germany in the maintenance and repair of combat vehicles and have already been working on the corresponding systems in Ukraine for some time. In June 2024, the maintenance hub in western Ukraine was officially opened under the umbrella of the joint venture in the presence of high-ranking political representatives. The aim is to be an effective partner for Ukraine in rebuilding the once strong defence industry in Ukraine and ensuring the autonomy of Ukrainian capacities.
What Rheinmetall is doing to Support Ukraine
Ammunition
Rheinmetall is now the sole defence contractor capable of supplying the Ukrainian military with large amounts of new medium- and large-calibre ammunition. In addition to 20mm ammunition for the Marder infantry fighting vehicle, Rheinmetall also supplies 35mm ammunition for the Gepard anti-aircraft gun, 40mm ammunition, 105mm and 120mm tank ammunition as well as Skynex air defence systems. Rheinmetall also supplies the Ukrainian armed forces with significant quantities of mortar shells and 155mm artillery ammunition.
Particularly with regard to the latter, Rheinmetall is an essential strategic partner for Ukraine – hundreds of thousands of rounds of 155mm artillery ammunition have already been delivered. In December 2023, the German government also placed an order with Rheinmetall to supply tens of thousands of rounds in 2025. In addition to Germany, another NATO member state has commissioned Rheinmetall to supply large quantities of 155mm ammunition for Ukraine.
In February 2024, Rheinmetall and Ukraine declared their intention to produce a six-digit number of 155mm rounds per year in a "Ukrainian Centre of Excellence for Ammunition". Joint work on this project is already well advanced. Rheinmetall will hold 51 per cent of the shares in the joint venture, with the Ukrainian partner holding 49 per cent. In June 2024, a large-volume framework agreement was concluded with the German government, the largest in Rheinmetall's history. Ukraine will also participate in this.
Combat vehicles
Marder and Lynx infantry fighting vehicles
Rheinmetall also provides substantial support for combat vehicles, either through direct deliveries or by way of a ring exchange with partner nations such as Greece, Slovakia or the Czech Republic.
Rheinmetall of Ukraine delivered a three-digit number of Marder 1A3 infantry fighting vehicles. In addition, a mid-double-digit number of infantry fighting vehicles have been handed over to Ukraine as part of ring exchange programmes.
Rheinmetall is also in the process of setting up the production of Lynx infantry fighting vehicles in Ukraine via the existing joint venture Rheinmetall Ukrainian Defense Industries. Corresponding transfers to Ukraine are planned in the short term to enable an initial handover.
Leopard 1 and Leopard 2 main battle tanks
Rheinmetall has delivered a double-digit number of Leopard 1A5 main battle tanks to Ukraine, along with five recovery tanks and two driver training tanks (Leopard 1). The preparatory work was carried out in Unterlüß and Kassel.
On behalf of the Dutch and Danish governments, Rheinmetall has provided the Ukrainian armed forces with 14 Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks; two of which had already been delivered in advance for training purposes.
As part of the already completed Ringtausch exchange programmes with Slovakia and the Czech Republic, the maintenance of the combat vehicles has also been commissioned. Overall, Rheinmetall is supporting Ukraine's defence campaign with a comprehensive range of main battle tank services.
Air defence
The successes of the 35mm Gepard anti-aircraft tank in Ukraine underline the efficiency with which the cannon-based air defence system can defend against air targets – especially cruise missiles and drones. Rheinmetall's state-of-the-art Skynex system, also a cannon-based air defence solution, follows in this tradition. It was developed for close-range defence where guided weapons cannot be effective. The use of programmable 35mm AHEAD air burst munitions, as developed by Rheinmetall for this purpose, is considerably cheaper than comparable guided missile-based systems. In addition, it is not possible to influence or even deflect the 35 mm ammunition by electronic countermeasures after firing.
The new 8x8 swap-body lorries from Rheinmetall, hundreds of which have also been introduced in the German armed forces, serve as carrier vehicles for the Skynex systems. The first Skynex air defense system was handed over to the Ukrainian armed forces in 2023, with another one following in the course of 2024.
HX trucks
The HX vehicles from Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles are among the most widely used military commercial vehicles and impress with their robustness, manoeuvrability, ergonomics and modularity - a unique selling point in the industry.
Several hundred Rheinmetall trucks are currently in service in Ukraine, and 26 brand-new trucks were recently delivered.
Service and logistical support
Wherever military equipment is used, service and maintenance solutions are indispensable. Rheinmetall Ukrainian Defense Industry LLC's maintenance base in western Ukraine already services and repairs Marder infantry fighting vehicles and Leopard 1 main battle tanks. In the future, Leopard 2 main battle tanks and other German-made systems will also be repaired at other locations in Ukraine.
Rheinmetall uses existing infrastructure on site, but has also brought special tools, spare parts and other equipment to the hub. Rheinmetall also operates a joint maintenance and repair centre with KNDS in Lithuania in order to maintain the operational readiness of Western combat systems and ensure their logistical support. Vehicles of the Ukrainian armed forces are also repaired there.
Field hospital and rescue stations
Rheinmetall subsidiary RMS GmbH delivered a turnkey field hospital to the Ukrainian military in August 2023 with the support of the German government. It comprises 32 patient beds, including eight intensive care beds. Rheinmetall only received the order for this at the end of 2022. The combined tent and container-based system is a completely self-sufficient medical supply unit and complies with NATO's Role 2 standard.
In August 2023, ten Ukrainian soldiers completed 14 days of training in setting up, dismantling and operating the mobile hospital. They returned to their area of deployment immediately afterwards.
In addition, Rheinmetall handed over a rescue station (NATO Role 1 standard) to Ukraine in December 2023. A second rescue station followed in the first quarter of 2024. Further deliveries are being worked on in close cooperation between industry and the German and Ukrainian governments.
Reconnaissance systems for drone defence
Drone defence plays a crucial role in Ukraine's defence. The extensive support services for the country are therefore supplemented by SurveilSPIRE mobile reconnaissance systems. They can reconnoitre and combat enemy drones. The systems include mobile surveillance towers with day and night vision camera equipment, autopiloted mini drones and a command and control system. A double-digit number of SurveilSPIRE systems have already been delivered; further deliveries have been ordered by the German government. Rheinmetall is cooperating with an Estonian partner company.
With all these deliveries, the Düsseldorf-based technology group is once again emphasising its role as a major supplier of military support for the Ukrainian armed forces and thus ultimately also for security and freedom in Europe.
The equipment delivered to date underscores Rheinmetall’s role as a key source of military support for the Ukrainian armed forces, making the company a mainstay of European defence architecture and a guarantor of freedom and democracy.
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