Overview

• Rheinmetall and Latvia’s State Defence Corporation signed a non‑binding MoU in Hamburg to create a 51/49 joint venture for a new munitions facility.
• The project foresees about €275 million in investment for a 155 mm shell plant expected to produce roughly 60,000–80,000 rounds annually and create around 150 jobs.
• Construction is targeted to start by spring 2026 with production about a year later, subject to final agreements, permits and implementation steps.
• Output is planned for Latvia’s armed forces and for export to partners to strengthen supply security on the Baltic flank.
• The move extends Rheinmetall’s capacity buildout, following the new Unterlüß plant and planned sites in Lithuania, Romania and Bulgaria, to address NATO/EU ammunition shortfalls.