German Defense Company Rheinmetall Ramps Up Production

Germany’s largest arms manufacturer, Rheinmetall, will drastically ramp up production of artillery shells and other munitions by opening new factories in Ukraine, Lithuania and Germany, the company said on March 14.

Before the war in Ukraine, Rheinmetall sold about 70,000 shells each year. Since demand has now massively increased, the manufacturer intends to produce about 700,000 shells, ceo Armin Papperger said. With a new factory in Germany, four more planned in Ukraine, and another one planned in Lithuania, this number is expected to rise to 1.5 million by 2026.

A new decade in security policy has begun. It is very important to us to do all we can to help Ukraine in its fight for survival.
—Armin Papperger

Earnings: At Rheinmetall’s earnings call on Wednesday, executives said sales reached €7.2 billion (us$7.8 billion), a 12 percent increase over the previous year. This year it expects to exceed €10 billion for the first time ever. Its share price almost doubled this past year.

Germany’s military rise: Russia’s war on Ukraine is prompting Germany and the rest of Europe to drastically increase arms production. The Trumpet has warned for decades that Germany will lead a militaristic European superpower that will soon rise and play a major role in world events.

Read our Trends article “Why the Trumpet Watches Europe’s Push Toward a Unified Military.”