Germany: Everything we give to Ukraine can be replaced with new products only in two years – Technology Org

The capacity of the European defense industry is not limitless. The German arms maker Rheinmetall expects to deliver newly-manufactured 35-mm ammunition for anti-aircraft tanks Gepard to Ukraine by July, but additional batches of more complex equipment could take at least 2 years to complete.

German M109 howitzer and Gepard anti-aircraft gun. Image credit: Neuwieser via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0

Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger yesterday commented that the company is committed to supporting Ukraine into the future. For example, 20 units of Marder fighting vehicles are nearing their completion and should be delivered to Ukraine by the end of March.

The CEO also noted that the company has responded to the call of the German government to increase production rates. Now, in some sectors, manufacturing capacities have been doubled or even tripled. There is still some space, though, but additional funding is needed.

“In weapons production, the warehouse is full, we are running at full steam here and we can still increase capacity with one shift, if contracts were made”, Armin Papperger said.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius also confirmed that the German government was working with the industry to facilitate deliveries of whatever was possible.

“We can deliver what we have and we can deliver what will be produced in the next months,” the Minister said.

But the production of heavy vehicles, such as modern battle tanks, requires much more time.

“Everything we are handing over now (to Ukraine) will only be available for replacement in two or two-and-a-half years,” he said.