Rheinmetall: The Second-Most Valuable Defense Contractor in the Western Hemisphere

The share price of German defense giant Rheinmetall has increased 20-fold since the beginning of 2022 and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. On the stock market, Rheinmetall is worth more than Germany’s automotive giants, bmw, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen. ceo Armin Papperger sees his company as on par with the defense industry heavyweights from the United States, Bild reported July 13.

U.S. manufacturers Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Northrop Grumman have dominated the market and outshone European competitors. But there are signs that Rheinmetall is now entering their league. Bild wrote:

Now the trend is reversing: “The playing field has completely changed,” says the ceo. Rheinmetall, now the most valuable defense contractor in the Western Hemisphere after Lockheed Martin, is suddenly being taken seriously. …

The U.S. partners want to build cruise missiles, rocket launchers, and other weapon systems in Germany for Europe with the Düsseldorf-based company. Discussions are currently underway with all major U.S. manufacturers who would also agree to a junior role in joint projects. “That would have been impossible in the past!” says Papperger.

Indeed, a major U.S. defense company taking a junior role in an arms project would have been unthinkable just years ago, especially considering that the U.S. once swore to utterly demolish Germany’s ability to manufacture armaments.

Rheinmetall recently boosted its prestige through a partnership with Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to produce mid-fuselage components for the F-35 stealth jet. A dedicated factory in Weeze, Germany, was completed on July 1. Germany recently ordered 35 F-35s to replace its aging Tornado fleet and maintain nuclear-sharing capability; it may place further orders along with other European nations.

Rheinmetall is also Germany’s largest ammunition producer and tank supplier. “We are currently negotiating the purchase of 6,000 to 7,000 vehicles,” Papperger told Bild. “In total, there is a potential for orders worth up to €70 billion [us$81.2 billion] for Rheinmetall in the next 12 months.” Additional orders are coming from other European Union countries, the U.S. and Ukraine.

To keep pace with the increased demand, Rheinmetall is building 10 new plants, including one ammunition plant in Ukraine where it already has a tank repair facility.

While Rheinmetall is a global player, Papperger’s priority is arming Europe. “We have to bring production back,” he said. “We want to create jobs here locally. Because it is German taxpayers’ money that we have received.” Rheinmetall plans to increase its workforce from 40,000 to 70,000. Bild commented:

So will Rheinmetall become the new symbol of a German industrial miracle? Just as the VW Beetle once became the poster child for the economic boom despite difficult times, Rheinmetall now stands for a new era of economic strength—only this time, instead of tin beetles, it’s state-of-the-art battle tanks rolling out.

Germany is betting on an armaments-driven economic boom—but every boom built on weapons risks ending with an explosion. This is even more true considering Rheinmetall’s history.

Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry wrote in “Rising From the Underground”:

Automotive and arms manufacturer Rheinmetall armed Germany in two world wars. Between those wars, it was forced to operate underground. Prohibited by the Versailles Treaty to test weapons in Germany, Rheinmetall cooperated with Russia to test its weaponry abroad. This enabled the rise of Adolf Hitler and German military dominance.

In 1944, the SS leadership directed Rheinmetall and others to go underground again. The minutes of the meeting were kept classified until 1996—and even then the media largely ignored them. But Rheinmetall followed these orders and is now rising from the underground!

It is time we pay attention. It is almost too late!

Compare what Rheinmetall is doing today with the lead-up to World War ii, and you get a chilling insight into the largest war preparations our world has ever known.

Rheinmetall names its tanks after vicious beasts of the animal kingdom, a tradition kept from World War ii. Its most recent tank, the Panther KF51, is seen by some as the most modern tank in the world. This alone shows what Rheinmetall thinks of its World War ii history.

A beast such as a leopard or tiger has complete disregard for life. Only superior force can stop it. The Bible compares Germany’s military to a vicious beast: “Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?” (Revelation 13:4).

To learn more about this prophecy, read Mr. Flurry’s article “Rising From the Underground.”