KMW joins Ukrainian Alliance of Defense Industries

German defense company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann has joined the Alliance of Defense Industries. Oleksandr Kamyshin, Minister of Strategic Industries of Ukraine, announced this on October 25. "KMW CEO Ralf Ketzel handed us the relevant signed documents at the German-Ukrainian Business Forum in Berlin," he wrote.

Kamyshin added that Krauss-Maffei Wegmann is the important partner of Ukraine, a manufacturer of Leopard 2 tanks, Panzerhaubitze 2000, and Gepard howitzers. The German-Ukrainian Business Forum was held in Berlin on October 24, 2023.

The signing of the agreement. Photo credits: Oleksandr Kamyshin

The forum also announced the establishment of Rheinmetall-Ukrainian Defense Industry LLC, a joint venture between the German defense concern Rheinmetall and the Ukrainian Defense Industry JSC.

The company will maintain and repair the equipment supplied by its partners to Ukraine. The company will also localize the production of leading models of Rheinmetall AG equipment, according to Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, announced the creation of the Alliance of Defense Industries on September 29 at the first International Defense Industries Forum in Kyiv.

President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking at the International Defense Industries Forum. Kyiv, September 29, 2023. Photo credits: radiosvoboda.org

On October 16, Ukraine's Foreign Minister announced that the number of members of the Alliance of Defense Industries had increased to 59 companies from 23 countries.

Ukraine is developing a special economic regime for the defense industry.

The idea is to give every company that works for defense in Ukraine or with Ukraine, or that wants to come to Ukraine, every opportunity to realize its potential.