Rheinmetall warns of long road to replenish US missile stockpiles

Rheinmetall plans to establish production facilities for the Army Tactical Missile Systems at its Unterluess plant in northern Germany by next year. While the joint venture is designed to help restock U.S. arsenals depleted during the recent conflict with Iran, Papperger emphasized that the ramp-up process is not an overnight fix. The company expects the venture to generate its first revenue by 2028, targeting a global market that the CEO predicts will remain active for at least 15 years.

Beyond the ATACMS initiative, the company is navigating several other high-stakes projects. Papperger noted that a potential acquisition of Iveco's military truck business from Leonardo depends on negotiations with the new CEO, Lorenzo Mariani. Meanwhile, the firm remains optimistic about securing a multibillion-euro contract for Boxer armored vehicles by the end of the year. This deal, involving partner KNDS, is valued at approximately €25 billion, with Rheinmetall’s share accounting for €12.4 billion of the total.