German defence concern Rheinmetall may open a joint venture in Ukraine to produce air defence systems, but it will take at least several years.
This is reported by the publication Defense Express.
The article recalls how on May 15, news began to circulate that the German defence giant Rheinmetall would open a joint venture in Ukraine to produce air defence systems - the source was the German Aid to Ukraine account on social media site X (it specialises in reports on German aid to Ukraine). In addition, it was clarified that these are only plans and their possible implementation may take one to two years.
Defence Express recalls how Rheinmetall recently summed up the results of the first quarter of 2024, "...during which the German defence giant's plans for Ukraine were also discussed".
However, these plans were framed under a rather simple thesis, as the publication notes: "the mission is to become the first option for the Ukrainian Armed Forces".
The key aspects of the partnership include the involvement in the production of Fuchs products, artillery shells and Skynex systems. It is worth emphasising that the project to manufacture Fuchs vehicles in Ukraine has already received approval, meaning that it is an approved project. So is the project for the production of artillery shells, as Rheinmetall plans to produce a large number (namely, a ‘six-digit number’) of 155-mm shells.
Special attention is currently being paid to developing joint production of air defence systems. Back in March 2024, during the presentation of the 2023 report, Armin Papperger pointed to the company's plans to set up production facilities for military equipment, shells, gunpowder, and anti-aircraft systems in Ukraine.
This means that, as Defense Express concludes, Rheinmetall's intentions to launch the production of air defence systems in Ukraine are real. This is likely to happen within a few years, if the Ukrainian authorities actively support it.
In addition, it is important to note that such an enterprise may first of all be focused on repairing and restoring existing air defence systems, after which it will be able to gradually localise their production.
Defence Express recalls that Rheinmetall's new systems include Skynex, which Ukraine has already received.
In addition, the publication notes that the German company, together with Diehl and Hensoldt, is working on the NNbS air defence system, some components of which (namely the ISRIS-T SLM, TRML-4D radar and Skynex) are already in service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Earlier, we wrote that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced new aid package for Ukraine.