German arms producer Rheinmetall may build tank plant in Ukraine

Rheinmetall AG is negotiating the construction of a tank plant in Ukraine, the company’s chief Armin Papperger told journalists of the Rheinische Post newspaper, Spiegel reports.

"A Rheinmetall plant could be built in Ukraine for about 200 million euros," said the company's CEO Armin Papperger.

The company could produce up to 400 Panther-type main battle tanks per year. According to Papperger, the negotiations with the Ukrainian government are "promising". The head of the concern hopes for a decision "within the next two months".

According to the current status, Rheinmetall is providing about 250 tanks in connection with the war in Ukraine: "We are working at full speed," said Armin Papperger, adding: "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 2A4s, about 30 tanks are ready. There are also about 100 older Leopard 1 models, of which we can currently make 88 fit for use again."

• In December, it was reported that the Bayraktar drone production plant in Ukraine has not yet been launched, but it is expected that the first aircraft may be produced in two years.