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Ukraine-Tested Missile Maker Joins Rheinmetall To Build Europe’s HIMARS Alternative
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Rheinmetall has announced a partnership with Dutch aerospace company Destinus, known for supplying Ukraine with its Ruta cruise missile, to jointly develop new long-range strike systems and rocket artillery ammunition.
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According to Defense Express on April 13, the two companies plan to establish a joint venture named Rheinmetall Destinus Strike Systems in the second half of 2026.
The initiative will focus on the development of cruise missiles as well as munitions for multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), including alternatives to GMLRS rockets used by the US-made HIMARS.
Destinus will hold a 49% stake in the joint venture and will remain responsible for core system development and component production. Rheinmetall, with a 51% stake, is expected to provide industrial capacity for large-scale manufacturing in Germany.
The companies aim to scale production to meet growing demand across Europe and NATO countries, where procurement needs for long-range strike capabilities are increasing.
The report notes that Destinus’ Ruta missile is already in use by Ukraine’s Defense Forces for strikes against targets inside Russia, with an upgraded version, Ruta Block 2, currently under development. The partnership is expected to build on this operational experience to expand the missile’s capabilities and production volume.
According to Defense Express, the cooperation will also address a critical gap in Europe’s defense industry—the lack of domestically produced MLRS munitions.
Currently, European countries rely on imported systems such as the US HIMARS, South Korea’s K239 Chunmoo, and Israel’s PULS. Several European programs are underway, including French efforts to develop similar capabilities, but most remain in early stages.
Rheinmetall is already working on its GMARS system, an MLRS platform based on the RMMV HX truck chassis and designed as a European alternative to HIMARS. The company is also reportedly developing rocket artillery solutions tailored for countries such as Spain, which seek to reduce dependence on US defense systems.
Earlier, France launched the Chorus program to develop a long-range strike system modeled on Ukraine’s FP-5 “Flamingo” cruise missile. The project, involving Renault and Turgis Gaillard, is intended to test the country’s ability to rapidly scale production of low-cost, long-range munitions, drawing on Ukraine’s battlefield experience with deep-strike capabilities.
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