Rheinmetall Outlines Plans for Weapon Deliveries to Ukraine
6 February, 2024 Rheinmetall workshops. Photo from social media Rheinmetall is planning to send tens of thousands of various caliber shells and military equipment to Ukraine.
The German group announced its plans in Ukraine for 2024 and the following year. The company intends to supply the Armed Forces of Ukraine with medium and large caliber ammunition, in particular 20mm for the Marder IFV, 40mm and 105mm for the Leopard 1, and 120mm for the Leopard 2 tanks. In 2023, 40 thousand of the total 300,000 rounds of 35mm caliber for the Gepard anti-aircraft gun were manufactured and delivered.
With regard to artillery shells of 155mm caliber, several tens of thousands have already been delivered, and tens of thousands more will be in 2024.
Gepard SPAAG.
2023. Photo credits: Joint Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
In December 2023, the German government placed orders for several tens of thousands of cartridges in 2025. In addition to Germany, another NATO member state instructed the company to transfer a large amount of 155mm ammunition to Ukraine.
The shells will be manufactured by Spanish Rheinmetall Expal Munitions and delivered in 2025. The company recalled that in October 2023, Rheinmetall founded a joint venture in Kyiv with the Ukrainian state-owned company Ukroboronprom JSC, Rheinmetall Ukrainian Oboronprom LLC (or Rheinmetal Ukrainian Defense Industry LLC), which is already carrying out work on the maintenance and repair of military equipment. At the second stage, Ukraine is also planning to produce the following armored vehicles:
- Fuchs armoured transport vehicles;
- Lynx infantry fighting vehicles;
- Panther main battle tanks.
KF41 Lynx IFV of the Hungarian military. October 2022. Hungary.
Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of Hungary
During 2023, the company supplied Ukraine with more than 100 Marder IFVs. Further deliveries in the 'double-digit range' will take place in 2024. A contract was signed for the supply to Ukraine of 25 Leopard 1A5 main battle tanks, as well as five armored evacuation vehicles and two Leopard 1 tanks for training.
Delivery is scheduled for 2024. On behalf of the Dutch and Danish governments, Rheinmetall supplies 14 Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks. Two of these battle tanks have already been transferred for training by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The remaining cars will be transferred in 2024.
Air Defence
The company also provides air defense services (a Skynex system designed for short range air defense operations where SAM missiles are ineffective). The use of Ahead Airburst programmable 35mm ammunition designed for this particular purpose is significantly cheaper than similar guided missile systems. It is impossible to affect 35mm shells or repel them with electronic countermeasures, the company emphasized.
Skynex systems are installed on new Rheinmetall HX 8x8 trucks, hundreds of which have already been transferred by the Bundeswehr to Ukraine. In 2023, the first Skynex system was transferred to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The delivery of Skynex will continue through 2024.
Rheinmetall Skynex air defense system.
2021. Photo credits: Rheinmetall
The company also provides repair and maintenance services both on the territory of third states and directly in Ukraine.
In collaboration with the German government, Rheinmetall Mobile Systeme GmbH subsidiary donated a 'turnkey' mobile hospital comprising 32 beds for patients, eight of them for intensive care, as well as the most advanced medical and critical care equipment. In addition, the company transferred the rescue station (NATO standard Role 1). The second rescue station would arrive in the first quarter of 2024.
Another area of activity is the assistance of SurveilSPIRE mobile intelligence systems. They can scout and fight enemy drones.
SurveilSPIRE mobile surveillance system. Frame from DefSecIntel`s video
Systems include the following equipment:
- mobile surveillance towers with a day and night vision cameras;
- minidrons with autopilot;
- command and control system.
Ten SurveilSPIRE have already been delivered.
The German government ordered the supply of new intelligence systems.
Rheinmetall cooperates with the Estonian partner company on the contract.