The German defense giant Rheinmetall is currently producing more ammunition than it has signed contracts for, including for Ukraine. The company is ready to significantly increase deliveries of weapons and equipment if additional funding is provided, says CEO Armin Papperger, Table.Today reports.
“Yes, we can help in many areas. At the moment, funding for Ukraine is lacking here and there,” Papperger notes.
Production is ready, but money is lacking
According to the group's head, companies have already moved “ahead of demand,” investing in expanding production lines and stockpiles. However, without additional budgetary decisions by partner governments, contracts cannot be scaled up.
This means delays in ammunition deliveries at a critical moment for Ukraine.
Rheinmetall’s readiness to supply more shows that the West can rapidly scale up support for Ukraine without years of preparation.
From drones to tanks: what Rheinmetall is ready to supply
Papperger emphasizes that the company is ready to increase deliveries across the entire range:
- more anti-aircraft guns and ammunition;
- more armored vehicles and tanks;
- a broader spectrum of solutions — from drones and “new technologies” to proven systems that have been in service for decades.
“We could supply more anti-aircraft guns. We could supply more ammunition. We could even supply more tanks. In other words, we have moved ahead of demand here,” he stresses.
In conditions where Russia is increasing strikes and weapons production, Western delays mean a higher cost of war for Ukraine, while the resources to strengthen it are effectively already available.
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Frequently asked questions
According to CEO Armin Papperger, the primary obstacle is a lack of funding and signed contracts from Western governments. While the company has already invested in expanding its production lines and stockpiles ahead of demand, it cannot scale up deliveries without official budgetary decisions
The German defense giant is prepared to increase deliveries across a wide range of military equipment. This includes anti-aircraft guns, 155mm artillery ammunition, armored vehicles, tanks, drones, and various "new technologies" designed for modern warfare.
The "strategic gap" describes the disconnect between the defense industry's readiness to produce weapons and the political-financial readiness of governments to fund them. This delay in decision-making results in lost time on the front line, even though industrial capacity is already available.
Yes, the company has moved "ahead of demand" by investing in its own production lines and building up material stocks. As a result, Rheinmetall is currently producing more ammunition than it has existing contracts for, awaiting further orders from partner nations.
Rheinmetall’s ability to "flood" Ukraine with supplies shows that the West can rapidly scale up military support without years of additional preparation. Given that Russia is continuously increasing its own weapons production, closing the funding gap is seen as critical to preventing a higher cost of war for Ukraine.
