Rheinmetall to double large-scale artillery shell production in Ukraine

Germany’s largest defence contractor, Rheinmetall, plans to start producing 155mm artillery shells at a newly built plant in Ukraine in 2026. Originally designed to manufacture 150,000 shells per year, the company announced an expansion that will double capacity to 300,000 shells annually after a ramp-up phase lasting one to two years.

This initiative aims to reduce Ukraine’s heavy reliance on foreign ammunition supplies by boosting local production amid ongoing security challenges. Ukrainian officials have requested the increase, but financial constraints limit further growth beyond the doubled capacity, Caliber.Az reports via German Aid to Ukraine website. 

Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger noted during the company’s Q2 2025 conference call on August 7 that bureaucratic delays in Ukraine have slowed construction progress compared to a similar plant in Germany, which is already completed.

Papperger described the Ukrainian bureaucracy as “very, very high,” a sentiment echoed in previous interviews.

While other German defense firms acknowledge bureaucratic challenges in Ukraine, some suggest Rheinmetall itself may share responsibility for delays.

Despite these hurdles, Rheinmetall expects production at the Ukrainian plant to begin next year as planned, marking a significant development in Ukraine’s efforts to strengthen domestic defense manufacturing.

By Sabina Mammadli