Germany’s Rheinmetall powers up F-35 production, strengthening transatlantic defence ties

Germany’s largest defence contractor, Rheinmetall, has completed a €200 million manufacturing facility in Weeze, North Rhine-Westphalia, dedicated to producing a core component of the F-35 stealth fighter jet.

The plant will assemble the aircraft’s center fuselage section, marking a significant milestone in Germany’s involvement in the world’s most advanced combat aircraft program, Caliber.Az reports, citing German media.

At the opening ceremony, Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger announced that production would begin within days, “maybe even tomorrow.” The company is partnering with US defence firm Northrop Grumman, which previously manufactured the center fuselage—comprised of roughly 300,000 individual parts—exclusively in the United States.

Germany has ordered 35 F-35 jets to replace its aging Tornado fleet, making the country both a customer and a contributor to the international production chain of the aircraft, which is developed and led by Lockheed Martin. Rheinmetall’s involvement underscores a broader strategic shift within the company as it diversifies beyond its traditional focus on artillery, tanks, munitions, and air defence systems. The firm is increasingly investing in drones, satellites, and aerospace technologies—growth areas accelerated by the geopolitical impact of the war in Ukraine.

The new facility in Weeze is expected to produce 30 center fuselages annually under standard operations, with potential to increase to 36 units through an additional work shift. Each unit weighs around two tons and requires extensive technical preparation and complex production steps. The first completed fuselage is scheduled for delivery in autumn 2026 and will be sent to the US for final assembly.

Currently, 200 employees are working at the site, with the workforce expected to exceed 400 by late 2026. Rheinmetall holds a framework agreement to manufacture 400 fuselage sections over the next 17 to 20 years.

North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister-President Hendrik Wüst, who attended the facility’s inauguration, praised the project as a sign of enduring transatlantic cooperation. “Rheinmetall’s collaboration with US defence companies is clear proof that the transatlantic partnership remains strong and based on trust,” he said.

By Vafa Guliyeva