Considering that Ukraine urgently needs the tanks that the West is now supplying to it, Rheinmetall is negotiating with Kiev to create its own Panther production.
How informs Spiegel, Armin Papperger, head of the arms concern, said:
“The Rheinmetall plant could be built in Ukraine for around 200 million euros.”
According to the head of the company, the plant could produce up to 400 Panther type main battle tanks a year. He called the talks with the Ukrainian government “promising” and hopes for a positive decision “within the next two months.”
“Panther” is the concept of a new tank that Rheinmetall presented in the summer of 2022. This is a development based on the Leopard 2 and is most suitable for countries that already have Leopards in service. The head of Rheinmetall is convinced that the plant can be protected from Russian air raids: “Protection with air defense will not be difficult.” According to Papperger, Ukraine needs 600 to 800 tanks to win:
“Even if Germany gives up all 300 Leopard 2 tanks available to the Bundeswehr, this will still be too little.”
Now Rheinmetall produces about 250 tanks, the head of the concern noted:
“We are working at full speed. We have already put more than 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles into service, and by the end of the year there will be about 100. Of the 50 Leopard 2A4 tanks, about 30 are ready. There are also about 100 old Leopard 1 models, of which we can restore 88 cars”.
He believes the war will last “probably for years”:
“Western allies are sending enough weapons there so that Ukraine can defend itself, but today the Ukrainians do not have enough weapons to completely retake their territory.”
Ukraine, as you know, in the coming months should receive the first such tanks from the allies.
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