Overview

• Rheinmetall inaugurated the new Unterlüß facility in Lower Saxony, billed to become Europe’s largest munitions plant at full capacity after a 14‑month build.
• Output will climb from about 25,000 155mm shells in 2025 to roughly 140,000 in 2026 and 350,000 in 2027, with a companywide target of 1.5 million shells annually by 2027.
• The company invested roughly €500 million at the site and is adding a rocket‑motor facility slated to start in 2026, plus a planned RDX explosives plant.
• NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte joined German ministers Lars Klingbeil and Boris Pistorius at the opening, highlighting the need to supply Ukraine and refill Bundeswehr stocks as 155mm rounds play a key role.
• Rheinmetall is in talks with Lockheed Martin about producing ATACMS and Hellfire missiles at Unterlüß and is pursuing a reported €1 billion munitions plant in Bulgaria, while protests including a court‑approved camp in Cologne continue.