Rheinmetall to supply Ukraine with shells instead of Switzerland

Rheinmetall expects to sign a contract worth billions of euros with the German government in the coming weeks and deliver the first 35-mm shells for Gepard anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine in July.

This was stated by Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger, Reuters reports.

Rheinmetall launched the production line after Switzerland refused to allow the export of 35 mm ammunition for Gepard to Ukraine.

According to Papperger, in July, Rheinmetall will deliver the first 35mm shells made on the new production line in Germany.

"The government has ordered 300,000 rounds. ... We will certainly deliver some 40,000 to 60,000 rounds this year," he said.

Papperger said that the new contract with the German government will be worth several billion euros, and he hopes that Rheinmetall, one of the world's largest producers of artillery guns and tank shells, will be able to announce it in the next six weeks.

"Germany is about to seal a large framework contract with us," he told Reuters in an interview in Brussels, where he was attending the first-ever joint meeting of NATO defense ministers and about 20 defense industry executives.

Throughout the year, Papperger expects defense orders worth a "double-digit billion euros" sum.

"It will certainly be our best year ever as regards order intake," he said, adding that he expects a range of deals - for vehicles, ammunition, electronics and radar systems.

Author – Anastasiya Glotova, 16/06/2023