Ukraine restores first German infantry fighting vehicles under Rheinmetall agreement

He said this in an interview with ArmyInform. 

Smetanin noted significant progress in cooperation with the German weapons manufacturer Rheinmetall, stating that unlike other foreign partners of Ukraine, the German company quickly moved "from concluding an agreement and registering a joint venture in October 2013 to launching production facilities in record time."

"It was a rather difficult path, but the first German combat vehicles are already being restored in Ukraine," he said.

According to him, from now on, the two countries will "further develop and deepen cooperation".

"In the short term, we are going to start repairing artillery systems, as well as a large project - the production of the latest German Lynx armoured fighting vehicles at the joint venture site," explained Ukroboronprom's CEO. "Such a quick leap from equipment restoration to production demonstrates the high potential of our partnership with German weapons manufacturers and trust in the professionalism of the Ukrainian defense industry."

• On June 3, Lithuania signed a $180 million deal with the German weapons manufacturer Rheinmetall to build a major arms factory.