Rheinmetall to Expand Ammunition Production in Ukraine

• Rheinmetall plans to increase ammunition production in Ukraine.
• The factory is expected to start operating in 2026 with an annual capacity of 300,000 rounds.
• Bureaucratic delays are affecting the speed of construction at the factory.

This was reported by Ukrayinska Pravda, RBC Ukraine.

The German company Rheinmetall plans to start producing 155-mm artillery shells in 2026 at the factory, which will currently be located in Ukraine. The capacity of this factory may turn out to be larger than expected.

Initially, the company planned to produce 150,000 rounds per year. However, according to General Director Armin Papperger in an interview with the German newspaper Handelsblatt, production will be expanded, and the capacity will significantly increase.

During the conference-call on September 7, 2025, Papperger noted that Ukrainian officials are eager to increase the planned capacity. As a result, the new factory may produce 300,000 155-mm rounds annually, although achieving this volume may take one to two years.

However, he stated that production of over 300,000 rounds is currently not being discussed, as the Ukrainian government does not have the necessary funding. Furthermore, bureaucratic difficulties in Ukraine cause delays. Papperger expressed concerns about the progress of the project.

He mentioned the example of a new factory in Unterlüß, Lower Saxony, which began construction around the same time as in Ukraine, but the facility in Unterlüß is already completed, while work in Ukraine is still ongoing.

Amid criticism of Ukrainian bureaucracy, the source reported that problems related to bureaucracy also affect other companies, although they do not significantly hinder construction at the factory. There is a high probability that production will commence next year.

Background: Rheinmetall also plans to produce infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, and howitzers in Romania and establish a training center there.

Tags: Ukraine