German defense conglomerate Rheinmetall will supply Ukraine with “hundreds of thousands” of artillery shells this year, including prototypes with a range of 100 kilometers, said the company’s CEO Armin Papperger to the Handelsblatt newspaper.
The article states that “this year, the Düsseldorf-based company will deliver ‘hundreds of thousands of shots’ to Ukraine. This includes prototypes of artillery shells with a firing range of 100 kilometers.”
Previously, the most advanced long-range artillery provided to Ukraine was the Vulcano series, capable of around 70 km range. Filling the Gap: These new 100 km shells could address the need for longer-range fire capabilities in the ongoing conflict. Rheinmetall is collaborating with Northrop Grumman on this next-generation artillery project.
According to Papperger, “Artillery is changing the rules of the game.”
As per the paper, Russia is firing large amounts of artillery ammunition. On the other hand, Ukraine can only react to these attacks to a limited extent due to a shortage of ammunition.
The newspaper quotes Papperger as saying, “The Western world is not prepared for conventional warfare. Both in Europe and the USA, production capacities for manufacturing artillery ammunition have gradually decreased in recent years.”
Rheinmetall’s strategic moves are not limited to the current conflict. The conglomerate is not only building a new artillery plant in Germany but also establishing a new production facility in Lithuania. Furthermore, Rheinmetall has ambitious plans to build an artillery plant in Ukraine, a move that could significantly alter the dynamics of the defense industry in the region.
Last week, German left-wing extremists claimed responsibility for setting fire to Papperger’s summer house, explaining their actions by saying the company is enriching itself through arms deliveries to Ukraine.
Rheinmetall, a key player in the European defense industry, saw a substantial increase in its turnover last year. The company’s annual report explicitly states that this ‘special benefit’ was a direct result of the increased demand for its products due to the armed conflict in Ukraine, a fact that should not be overlooked in the broader economic context.
