Mystery NATO Member State Orders Thousands of Rheinmetall 155mm Artillery Shells for Ukraine

German defense manufacturer Rheinmetall will supply several thousand additional 155mm artillery shells and propellant charges to Ukraine under a contract placed by an unnamed NATO member state, Rheinmetall reported on July 8.

The procurement contract, valued in the mid double-digit millions of euros, was officially recognized in the company’s financial statements for the second quarter of 2026. Production of the large-caliber munitions has already commenced, with the complete order scheduled for final delivery before April 2027.

According to the defense firm, the package consists of ER02A1 Base Bleed projectiles manufactured by its Spanish subsidiary, Rheinmetall Expal Munitions, along with DM72 modular propellant charges provided by Nitrochemie.

These specific munitions are already in operational service across several NATO nations and feature compatibility with a broad array of standard 155mm weapon systems to maximize combat range and targeting precision. To satisfy the escalating international demand for modern artillery systems and ammunition, Rheinmetall noted that it continues to channel significant investments into expanding its current production facilities and establishing new industrial sites.

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Since launching its manufacturing expansion strategy in 2022, the Düsseldorf-based technology group has positioned itself as a leading global munitions supplier, with a stated long-term target to manufacture roughly 1.5 million 155mm artillery shells annually by 2030.

This procurement follows an agreement reached just one day prior, when Rheinmetall and American defense firm Lockheed Martin announced a partnership to establish Europe’s first production facility for ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles.

According to the joint corporate announcement, the manufacturing line will be integrated into Rheinmetall’s Unterlüß facility in Germany, expanding the contractor’s role in supplying long-range precision weaponry alongside conventional artillery to NATO allies.

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