German arms maker guns for rapid production as Ukraine war rages
WORLD 08 June 2023 - 20:14
Leading arms manufacturer Rheinmetall is racing to meet the demand for weapons and ammunition to supply Kyiv, as well as Germany and other NATO countries which are bolstering their defences after draining stockpiles.
In March, as intense fighting continued around Bakhmut, NATO's chief said "we need to ramp up production" warning Ukraine's usage is outstripping allies' production capacity, AFP reports.
"We are pulling out all the stops when it comes to the production of ammunition for tanks," said Harald Weismueller, head of the factory in Unterluess, Lower Saxony state.
Germany has long been a major arms maker and exporter, but in a country still haunted by guilt over Nazi atrocities in World War II, its manufacturers have kept a relatively low profile.
But as Russia's war in Ukraine spurs demand, business is booming for Rheinmetall, which has seen orders surge and in March joined Frankfurt's blue-chip DAX stock index.
The European Union has agreed on a plan to spend two billion euros ($2.1 billion) on artillery shells for Ukraine to try to get a million rounds of artillery ammunition to the country over twelve months.
Kyiv had told the EU it needed 350,000 shells a month to support troops, saying its forces were having to ration firepower as the conflict turned into a grinding war of attrition.
Among the wide array of armaments produced at Rheinmetall's major Unterluess plant are shells for Leopard 2 battle tanks, which can travel at 1,700 metres (5,580 feet) per second and pierce the armour of a Russian tank.
Between 400 and 500 shells can be produced in an eight-hour shift, and the rate could be increased, said Weismueller.
After huge pressure, Berlin agreed in January that German-made Leopards -- for which Rheinmetall makes parts, and which are developed by manufacturer Krauss-Maffei Wegmann -- could be sent to Ukraine. The first tanks were delivered in late March.
New production lines
From 60,000 a year before the war, Rheinmetall has ramped up production to 240,000 of the tank shells annually.
The firm is Europe's biggest manufacturer of ammunition for tanks and artillery, ahead of Norway's Nammo and France's Nexter.
This position will be cemented with the acquisition of Spain's Expal, a leading manufacturer of 120 mm shells.
Such is the boom in demand that the company is sitting on a backlog of orders worth 18.5 billion euros -- three times its sales in 2022.
As well as supplying Ukraine, Germany's decision to beef up its armed forces in the wake of the Ukraine war is helping to drive the surge.
Rheinmetall estimates that Europe's biggest economy will need to spend $40 billion to replenish its stocks of armaments.
At Unterluess, new machines are being installed and whole new production lines set up.
Equipment to make 35 mm shells fired by Gepard anti-aircraft tanks should begin production in less than six weeks, Weissmueller said, with up to 500,000 to be produced a year.
The shells are also produced in Switzerland but authorities in the traditionally neutral country have refused to allow their export to conflict zones.
The factory has also ramped up production of 155 mm shells for self-propelled howitzers, which can hit targets 25 kilometres away.
Elsewhere in the plant, old armoured vehicles, with patches of rust, have been completely dismantled, as workers prepare to refurbish them to be deployed once again on the battlefield.
This includes the Marder infantry fighting vehicle, dozens of which have already been sent to Ukraine.
Booming demand means the 2,400 staff at the site are working flat out, as the sound of shots ring out from Leopard 2 cannons being tested on an adjacent firing range, the largest in Europe.
Caliber.Az
1
|
Poland suspends military drills following fifth soldier's death
27 March 2024 - 13:41
|
2
|
Syrian scenario for Armenia Russian, Israeli experts’ views for Caliber.Az
26 March 2024 - 17:27
|
3
|
Serbian president warns of difficult days ahead
27 March 2024 - 11:04
|
4
|
Global reactions to UNSC Gaza ceasefire resolution Diverse views, urgent action
27 March 2024 - 18:00
|
5
|
Vucic warns of Serbia's Council of Europe departure amid Kosovo debate Double standards alert
28 March 2024 - 12:13
|
Azerbaijan, China strengthen economic ties
From trade to investment29 March 2024 - 13:10
Another suspect detained for alleged complicity in Moscow terrorist attack
29 March 2024 - 13:05
Politico: The European Parliament is once again caught in corruption
29 March 2024 - 12:52
Geopolitical storm brewing beyond Russia's reaction
EU-US-Armenia meeting sparks controversy29 March 2024 - 12:38
Speaker says Armenia doing nothing against Russia
29 March 2024 - 12:24
Armenia conducts house-to-house searches in apartments, offices of nationalists
29 March 2024 - 12:09
Ombudswoman: World community should recognize events of 1918 as genocide of Azerbaijanis
29 March 2024 - 11:57
Global trade at risk as Washington faces policy failure
US-Houthi stalemate continues29 March 2024 - 11:46
Armenia blocks Kremlin propagandist’s talk-show
29 March 2024 - 11:34
Armenian prime minister faces dilemma amid Karabakh junta provocations
How will Pashinyan respond?29 March 2024 - 11:22
Azerbaijan’s ecology minister meets with Saudi energy companies
29 March 2024 - 11:13
Israeli strike kills 36 Syrian soldiers near Aleppo
Unprecedented attack29 March 2024 - 11:02
Poland to deploy troops to ensure security at Paris Olympics amid heightened alert
29 March 2024 - 10:53
European analyst: Armenia unlikely to secure NATO or EU membership
29 March 2024 - 10:42
Top UN court orders Israel to allow food and medical aid into Gaza
29 March 2024 - 10:31
Pundit questions Armenia's dependence on Western protection
29 March 2024 - 10:19
Presidential aide: Azerbaijan very pleased with China in field of global green transformation
29 March 2024 - 10:07
Azerbaijani officials deemed more professional than Armenian counterparts, claims blogger
29 March 2024 - 09:54
Great Return: Azerbaijan resettles 35 more families in Fuzuli amid restoration efforts
PHOTO29 March 2024 - 09:41
Armenian parliament speaker affirms EU membership goal
29 March 2024 - 09:27
Iranian top diplomat opposes military presence of third countries in Caspian Sea
29 March 2024 - 09:14
Azerbaijani, Armenian parliament speakers to meet again in mid-May amid peace talks
29 March 2024 - 09:00
Assault on Yerevan police station underlines risk of violent opposition to Armenia-Azerbaijan peace
Opinion by Commonspace.eu29 March 2024 - 08:45
Estonia must double defence spending to counter Russia - military chief
29 March 2024 - 07:00
Turkmenistan ready to diversify natural gas supplies to ECO countries - president
29 March 2024 - 05:00
Eurasianet: Armenian government grappling with border delimitation dilemma
29 March 2024 - 03:01
Iran displays advanced military might at international exhibition
PHOTO/VIDEO29 March 2024 - 01:00
Armenia’s exports to Russia raise concerns over sanctions circumvention
28 March 2024 - 23:00
Lavrov blames Armenian leadership for deliberately undermining relations with Moscow
28 March 2024 - 21:09
Turkish, Azerbaijani filmmakers unite for joint historical film Golden Train
28 March 2024 - 20:57
Japan looks to revive commercial aircraft development dreams
28 March 2024 - 20:45
CoE committee plans working visit to Armenia to assess regional dynamics
28 March 2024 - 20:41
Azerbaijan, OIC Youth Forum ink deal for Shusha 2024 program
28 March 2024 - 20:37
Ukraine drone strike hits Russian infrastructure - Belgorod governor
28 March 2024 - 20:29
EU mission in Armenia transitioning to NATO oversight
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov28 March 2024 - 20:20
US buys 2.8 mln barrels of oil for strategic reserve
28 March 2024 - 20:14
Int’l program OIC Youth capital Shusha-2024 to host array of events - minister
28 March 2024 - 19:59
Iran oil & gas expo strategic nexus for domestic & global energy players
28 March 2024 - 19:59
Who is Mohammad Mustafa, Palestinian Prime Minister-designate?
28 March 2024 - 19:45
Shusha holds paramount significance for all Turkic states
OIC Youth Forum president28 March 2024 - 19:35