Rheinmetall Arms Manufacturer to Launch Air Defense Production in Ukraine

German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall has unveiled plans to launch a new venture in Ukraine, focusing on the production of air defense systems.

This initiative is part of the “German Aid to Ukraine” project, aimed at bolstering Ukraine’s defense capabilities.

The CEO of Rheinmetall announced that in addition to the establishment of the new enterprise, the project includes the delivery of 40 Marder 1A3 infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine.

While a joint venture is in the works, it could be at least one to two years before production begins, as initial steps like signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and establishing the venture itself need to be completed. Further details remain undisclosed.

It’s been previously announced that Germany will send a new IRIS-T air defense system to Ukraine in May.

“In addition to the Patriot systems, there is also the IRIS-T system. Some systems are already here. And now another system will arrive in May. We also promised Ukraine that this year, next year, and in 2026 we will supply more such systems. We are consistently working on expanding air defense,” German Ambassador Martin Jäger said.