>*When Russia invaded Ukraine in the spring of 2022, Rheinmetall did not yet play a significant role in artillery ammunition. The Düsseldorf-based arms company was only able to produce around 70,000 grenades per year. This corresponds roughly to the amount that Ukraine shoots in around two weeks.*
>*Two years later things look completely different. According to industry sources, Rheinmetall could produce up to 450,000 artillery shells by the end of the year. At an event at the Hudson Institute in Washington, a conservative US think tank, on Wednesday, Czech Deputy Defense Minister Jan Jires said that the company produces more shells than the entire US defense industry.*
>*The German defense company confirms this, but does not provide any figures on the production target for this year. Industry observers in the US estimate that around 430,000 artillery shells could be manufactured in the US this year.*
>*In the USA, on the other hand, artillery has only played a minor role in recent decades. US military strategists were convinced that modern technologies, such as drones, would make the mass use of simple artillery unnecessary in military conflicts.*
>*In the USA, the monthly production of artillery is expected to increase from 36,000 pieces in March to 60,000 pieces in September. This emerges from a current study by military expert Gustav Gressel from the European Council on Foreign Relations and data analyst Marcus Welsch.*
>*Extrapolated to the full year, the USA could produce between 500,000 and 600,000 grenades this year, which is more than Rheinmetall. The largest producers in the USA include Northrop Grumman Systems and Global Military Products.*
>*The need for artillery is currently enormous. It is estimated that Ukraine alone relies on 1.8 to 2.4 million artillery shells per year to be able to withstand the waves of Russian attacks. In Europe, on the other hand, the depots that have been partially emptied need to be refilled.*
>*Rheinmetall therefore expects long-term high demand. After the Expal takeover, the company also invested in new factory capacity. Rheinmetall is setting up further production at the Unterlüß site. In Ukraine, the group wants to build a new artillery plant together with a Ukrainian joint venture partner.*
>*A plant is also planned in Lithuania, according to company circles. Corresponding declarations of intent have already been signed. In the future, Rheinmetall’s production capacity could increase to around one million shells per year.*
More.we need more
The USA had originally aimed for 60,000 shells per month (155mm) production by the end of 2024. This is the number cited in the article, but I’ll point out that the USA has now cited they will hit 100,000 shells (155mm) per month, because they were significantly ahead of schedule. This is obviously still too little, but the contracts signed (in November 2022) to increase production are bearing fruit. I think not just the USA, but all of Europe as well need to actually put some effort and money into increasing production. Good for Rheinmetall, but don’t stop there.
A shamefully poor reaction to the need for munitions as this conflict begins its third year. Poor from all western nations. What an embarrassment.
Right, I’ll cheer when it happens for real.
Otherwise, ok then.
Yeah usa is going to learn from this war and hopefully produce a retained supply of like 100 million shells.
Let’s wait until the shells are falling 20k a day before we start passing around congratulations.
The us got caught flat footed. Were back to ww2 fighting.
I think most manufacturers are taking the position of “we aren’t doing shit to increase capacity unless the government foots the bill.” Governments dragging their feet for 2 years makes that position quite reasonable.
Good! It’s a shorter drive from Germany than it is to ship from the US.
US is not much of a producer of anything now.
Russia did it, they made Germany make weapons again in large numbers. Wait until VW gets bought being Rheinmetall and they start cranking out tanks like VW golf’s
What an absolute embarrassment for the US. I’m so embarrassed. Good on Germany for getting it together on that so quickly.
Well, excellent! I imagine they’ll be outproducing every other European country too, as well as Canada and Mexico, all of South America, most of Asia, Africa, most of the whole entire world in fact. What matters is outproducing Russia, not the United States.
Europe’s nations should switch into wartime economy ASAP.
EU is still patting themselves on the back for promising to send 1 mill arty shells last year. They only sent half that.
Stop with the pre-congratulatory, bragging and start with the reality checks. Then they might get some deserved high fives if they do deliver on their estimates. Until then, its all BS and empty promises.
German industry engaged!
This is partly what the Americans get out of refusing aid to Ukraine: Instead of the American government creating jobs in US, the Europeans will produce ammunition at home, boost the defence industry, and the money donated to Ukraine will stay in Europe instead of buying American products.
19 comments
>*When Russia invaded Ukraine in the spring of 2022, Rheinmetall did not yet play a significant role in artillery ammunition. The Düsseldorf-based arms company was only able to produce around 70,000 grenades per year. This corresponds roughly to the amount that Ukraine shoots in around two weeks.*
>*Two years later things look completely different. According to industry sources, Rheinmetall could produce up to 450,000 artillery shells by the end of the year. At an event at the Hudson Institute in Washington, a conservative US think tank, on Wednesday, Czech Deputy Defense Minister Jan Jires said that the company produces more shells than the entire US defense industry.*
>*The German defense company confirms this, but does not provide any figures on the production target for this year. Industry observers in the US estimate that around 430,000 artillery shells could be manufactured in the US this year.*
>*In the USA, on the other hand, artillery has only played a minor role in recent decades. US military strategists were convinced that modern technologies, such as drones, would make the mass use of simple artillery unnecessary in military conflicts.*
>*In the USA, the monthly production of artillery is expected to increase from 36,000 pieces in March to 60,000 pieces in September. This emerges from a current study by military expert Gustav Gressel from the European Council on Foreign Relations and data analyst Marcus Welsch.*
>*Extrapolated to the full year, the USA could produce between 500,000 and 600,000 grenades this year, which is more than Rheinmetall. The largest producers in the USA include Northrop Grumman Systems and Global Military Products.*
>*The need for artillery is currently enormous. It is estimated that Ukraine alone relies on 1.8 to 2.4 million artillery shells per year to be able to withstand the waves of Russian attacks. In Europe, on the other hand, the depots that have been partially emptied need to be refilled.*
>*Rheinmetall therefore expects long-term high demand. After the Expal takeover, the company also invested in new factory capacity. Rheinmetall is setting up further production at the Unterlüß site. In Ukraine, the group wants to build a new artillery plant together with a Ukrainian joint venture partner.*
>*A plant is also planned in Lithuania, according to company circles. Corresponding declarations of intent have already been signed. In the future, Rheinmetall’s production capacity could increase to around one million shells per year.*
More.we need more
The USA had originally aimed for 60,000 shells per month (155mm) production by the end of 2024. This is the number cited in the article, but I’ll point out that the USA has now cited they will hit 100,000 shells (155mm) per month, because they were significantly ahead of schedule. This is obviously still too little, but the contracts signed (in November 2022) to increase production are bearing fruit. I think not just the USA, but all of Europe as well need to actually put some effort and money into increasing production. Good for Rheinmetall, but don’t stop there.
A shamefully poor reaction to the need for munitions as this conflict begins its third year. Poor from all western nations. What an embarrassment.
Right, I’ll cheer when it happens for real.
Otherwise, ok then.
Yeah usa is going to learn from this war and hopefully produce a retained supply of like 100 million shells.
Let’s wait until the shells are falling 20k a day before we start passing around congratulations.
The us got caught flat footed. Were back to ww2 fighting.
I think most manufacturers are taking the position of “we aren’t doing shit to increase capacity unless the government foots the bill.” Governments dragging their feet for 2 years makes that position quite reasonable.
Good! It’s a shorter drive from Germany than it is to ship from the US.
US is not much of a producer of anything now.
Russia did it, they made Germany make weapons again in large numbers. Wait until VW gets bought being Rheinmetall and they start cranking out tanks like VW golf’s
What an absolute embarrassment for the US. I’m so embarrassed. Good on Germany for getting it together on that so quickly.
Well, excellent! I imagine they’ll be outproducing every other European country too, as well as Canada and Mexico, all of South America, most of Asia, Africa, most of the whole entire world in fact. What matters is outproducing Russia, not the United States.
Europe’s nations should switch into wartime economy ASAP.
EU is still patting themselves on the back for promising to send 1 mill arty shells last year. They only sent half that.
Stop with the pre-congratulatory, bragging and start with the reality checks. Then they might get some deserved high fives if they do deliver on their estimates. Until then, its all BS and empty promises.
German industry engaged!
This is partly what the Americans get out of refusing aid to Ukraine: Instead of the American government creating jobs in US, the Europeans will produce ammunition at home, boost the defence industry, and the money donated to Ukraine will stay in Europe instead of buying American products.
Only took them a decade