"In Ukraine, the first German combat vehicles are being restored as part of an agreement with Rheinmetall," announced Herman Smetanin, CEO of Ukroboronprom, in an interview with ArmyInform. "Among all our foreign partners, it is with Rheinmetall that we have made the most progress. It has been a challenging journey, but the first German combat vehicles are already being restored in Ukraine," the official stated.
Smetanin added that Ukroboronprom has demonstrated to its foreign partners its capability to perform complex tasks.
Future plans include further development and deepening of cooperation with Rheinmetall. In the short term, Ukraine plans to transition to repairing artillery systems and establish a joint venture for the modern German BMP Lynx.
"This multifunctional armored tracked platform has great potential and will be extremely beneficial for our defense forces. This rapid progression from equipment restoration to production demonstrates the high potential of partnership with German arms manufacturers and reflects confidence in the professionalism of the Ukrainian defense sector," summarized Herman Smetanin.
The German-Ukrainian joint venture "RHEINMETALL UDI" (RHEINMETALL UKRAINIAN DEFENSE INDUSTRY LLC) was registered in Ukraine on October 18, 2023.