The German defense conglomerate Rheinmetall AG plans to launch the production of its armored vehicles in Ukraine in 2024.
This was announced by the CEO of the conglomerate, Armin Papperger, in an interview with WirtschaftsWoche.
The facility aims to manufacture wheeled armored personnel carriers Fuchs and tracked infantry fighting vehicles Lynx. The head of the German conglomerate mentioned that he expects the conclusion of the relevant agreement with Ukraine at the beginning of next year.
After signing the contract, the plan is for the first Fuchs to roll off the production line within 6–7 months, and the first Lynx within 12–13 months. Papperger explained that the production of Fuchs armored personnel carriers in Ukraine is expected to become possible by the end of the summer of 2024, and the production of Lynx infantry fighting vehicles may commence in the summer of 2025.
"The first ten Lynx armored vehicles are already being manufactured here, in Germany or Hungary, in collaboration with Ukraine. After the ramp-up phase, we should be able to produce a significant number of these combat vehicles entirely in Ukraine," he said.
According to him, the German government has already signaled that the export of this armored technology to Ukraine will be allowed.
The CEO of Rheinmetall explains the unusually short lead time by stating that the cooperation has progressed well. The German concern is already Ukraine's largest partner in the defense industry. In 2022, the group received orders totaling around 900 million euros, and in 2023, the order volume increased to approximately two and a half billion euros.
"And next year, there will definitely be more," Papperger predicts. In addition, service for German armored vehicles has already been established in Ukraine, for which Ukrainian specialists received training in Germany.
