German conglomerate Rheinmetall says it will open an armored vehicle factory in Ukraine within the next 12 weeks.
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| Germany's leading arms manufacturer will open a factory to produce and repair armored vehicles in Ukraine. (Source: Getty Images) |
The corporation is expected to train Ukrainians in how to maintain tanks and other armored vehicles produced at the plant, which is expected to be located in western Ukraine.
In an interview with CNN , Armin Papperger, Chairman of the Board of Directors of German defense corporation Rheinmetall, said, "[The Ukrainians] have to help themselves. If they always have to wait for [the] Europeans or the Americans to help them for the next 10 or 20 years... that's impossible."
According to him, the corporation expects the plant in Ukraine to produce about 400 tanks per year. In addition, plans are being made to manufacture and repair Fuchs armored personnel carriers there.
Papperger said the plant could be protected from potential clashes between Russia and Ukraine. "There are a lot of military goods factories [in Ukraine]. It's just another factory and we can protect it," he said, as Ukrainian defense company Ukroboronprom signed a strategic partnership agreement with Rheinmetall in May to form a joint venture.
Under the agreement, Ukroboronprom and Rheinmetall will cooperate in the technical maintenance and repair of armored vehicles sent to Ukraine. Rheinmetall aims to sign contracts for the establishment of two more joint enterprises for the production of ammunition and air defense.
Rheinmetall is Germany's largest arms manufacturer. According to its own data, the company is among the top three manufacturers of military equipment and ammunition in the Western world . Currently, Rheinmetall's trading value is over 10 billion euros.
Earlier, it was reported that Rheinmetall will deliver 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine in 2024. The initiators of the agreement to purchase upgraded 2A4 tanks and deliver them to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (VSU) were Denmark and the Netherlands.
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