Rheinmetall completes acquisition of ammunition maker Expal Systems
2 August, 2023 Projectiles of the company Expal Systems. Photo from the company page Rheinmetall AG has completed its takeover of all shares in Spain's Expal Systems to expand ammunition production to meet growing orders.
By acquiring the Spanish company, Rheinmetall strengthened its position and expanded its product range. In the future, the company will operate under the name Rheinmetall Expal Munitions. Completion of the acquisition will help Rheinmetall fulfill significant ammunition supply contracts placed over the past 18 months.
The acquisition was worth EUR1.2 billion and, according to the company's statement, will "enhance its position as an important supplier to the NATO armed forces by systematically increasing its production capacity, especially for artillery, mortars and medium caliber".
Projectile production at the Expal Systems enterprise. Photo from the company page
Rheinmetall is the main supplier to the Armed Forces of Ukraine of a large number of medium and large caliber ammunition, including 20 mm autocannon shells for the Marder infantry fighting vehicle and 105 mm and 120 mm tank ammunition for the Leopard 1 and Leopard 2 tanks.
Also at this time, the first batch of 35-mm ammunition for the Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft gun will be ready for shipment.
In addition, the first batch of 35-mm ammunition for the Gepard anti-aircraft gun will be ready for shipment in the near future. Expal Systems' products include artillery munitions, mortar shells and medium-caliber shells, as well as detonators and rocket launchers. The acquisition also expands Rheinmetall's presence in Spain, where the corporation already has an automotive engineering plant in Abadiano.
Expal Systems products.
Photo from the company page
Rheinmetall Expal Munitions will continue to work for the Spanish Armed Forces as a privileged and key partner, offering its products, technologies and industrial capabilities.
As previously reported, the German company Rheinmetall plans to open a repair center in Ukraine for German-made equipment used by the Defense Forces.