Rheinmetall to launch tank production in Ukraine within three months

Armin Papperger, CEO of German defence giant Rheinmetall, told CNN that the company will open a tank production plant in Ukraine within the next 12 weeks.

The plant will be located in Western Ukraine — the exact location remains undisclosed. Rheinmetall will also train Ukrainians to maintain the tanks and other armoured vehicles made in the upcoming factory.

“[Ukrainians] have to help themselves — if they always have to wait [for] Europeans or Americans [to] help them over the next 10 or 20 years… that is not possible,” he said.

Rheinmetall is Germany’s biggest arms maker. Its products include Leopard tanks, Marder personnel carriers, and Skynex air defence systems.

Papperger first mentioned the possibility of Ukraine-based production back in March in an interview with the Rheinische Post, saying the company has launched negotiations. The factory was expected to cost €200 million and be capable of manufacturing up to 400 Panther tanks annually.

The Telegraph reported in February that British and French arms manufacturers had also been discussing possibilities for joint weapon production in Ukraine. Experts warned that such a plant would be an easy target for large-scale Russian attacks. Papperger later assured that such factories can be protected with air defence systems.