Il governo tedesco ha commissionato alla Rheinmetall il più grande ordine di munizioni per artiglieria dalla fondazione dell’azienda

Translation:

**There is always a shortage of artillery ammunition on the front in Ukraine to defend against the Russian invaders. The Bundeswehr’s stocks have also been massively reduced in recent years. The Ministry of Defense has now ordered 155 mm shells from Rheinmetall worth billions.**

The German army has ordered artillery ammunition from the arms company Rheinmetall for up to 8.5 billion euros. A corresponding framework agreement for the delivery of ammunition has been signed, the company announced in Düsseldorf. The order is primarily intended to increase stocks in the German army and in allied countries, as well as “to support Ukraine in its defensive struggle” against Russia.

Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger spoke of the “largest order in our recent company history”. The federal government is keeping its word and ensuring the capacity utilization of the future Rheinmetall plant in Unterlüß in Lower Saxony. A framework agreement in place since July 2023 had a maximum value of around 1.3 billion euros, and this contract has now been increased by 7.2 billion euros. The number of projectiles ordered, which can be fired 40 kilometers and have a caliber of 155 millimeters, was not disclosed – it is likely to be several million.

Rheinmetall says it will create the entire value chain for artillery ammunition at the site: the projectile, the fuse, the explosive charge and the propellant charge that drives the projectile out of the barrel when fired. The site will have an annual capacity of 100,000 projectiles from the second year of production, later increasing to 200,000 per year.

Deliveries are set to begin in early 2025, Rheinmetall announced. “The primary buyer will be the Federal Republic of Germany, which will provide part of the deliveries to Ukraine.” The partner countries Netherlands, Estonia and Denmark are also involved in the order. The contract was concluded by the Bundeswehr Equipment Office BAAINBw.

So this new production line is estimated to basically double the shell production of EU on it’s own? 100k/ from first year (2025) and 2.4 mil in 2026-2027?

How much would it be combined with current production rates and the other munitions plants being built all over Europe? I already lost count – at least one in Ukraine, Lithuanian and…?

If things go well, could we see 4-5 mil 155mm shells per year by 2027?

Edit: correction 100-200k per year, not month.