I already reported on my blog a week ago that Rheinmetall is planning a new ammunition factory for 155 mm artillery ammunition in Germany and wants to build it at short notice.
Now more and more information about the new factory seems to be coming to light. According to a report by DER SPIEGEL, the foundation stone laying ceremony is to take place on the 12th of February and will be attended by Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius.
High-ranking visitors for Rheinmetall. However, this is not only a major — in other words, expensive — investment for Rheinmetall at 300 million euros, but also a strategically important investment for Germany. A visit is therefore appropriate.
Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger told DER SPIEGEL that the goal is to make Germany more independent in the production of artillery ammunition. Although Rheinmetall is one of the world’s most important producers of 155 mm artillery ammunition, making Germany one of the most important countries in this field, a large proportion of production takes place in other countries where Rheinmetall has subsidiaries.
This is now set to change with the new factory in Unterlüß. After the construction phase of around one year, the aim is to produce up to 200,000 155 mm shells per year at this particular German site alone.
This makes Unterlüß an even more strategically essential location for Germany, but also for Ukraine.
The production line that is producing 35 mm ammunition for the Gepard SPAAGs supplied by Germany is located in Unterlüß. It is also one of the two locations in Germany where the Marder 1A3 IFVs pledged by Germany to Ukraine are overhauled before they are delivered to Ukraine.
It is not yet clear whether Armin Papperger’s plans will actually work out as he hopes. However, it would be highly welcome, not only for the Bundeswehr, which is suffering from a severe shortage of ammunition, but also for Ukraine, which is in even worse shape regarding 155 mm ammunition since they are fighting in a defensive war and need every single shell they can get.
With the new factory, Rheinmetall aims to be able to produce up to 700,000 155 mm artillery shells per year starting in 2025.
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