The head of the German company Rheinmetall, Armin Papperger, said that the enterprise could produce several hundred modern battle tanks, and protection against Russian shelling “will not be difficult.”
The German engineering and weapons concern Rheinmetall is negotiating with the Ukrainian government on the construction of a tank plant in Ukraine. It is assumed that it could produce up to 400 modern Panther battle tanks. This was told by the head of the company Armin Papperger.
According to him, the construction of the enterprise will cost about 200 million euros, and negotiations with the Ukrainian authorities are “promising”. He hopes that a decision will be made within the next two months.
Papperger is convinced that the plant can be saved from Russian shelling, and protection by means of air defense “will not be difficult.”
“For victory, Ukraine needs from 600 to 800 tanks,” said the head of Rheinmetall.
Armin Papperger believes that in order to collect this amount, the construction of a tank factory must begin quickly.
“Even if Germany gives up all 300 Leopard 2 tanks available to the Bundeswehr, this will still be too little,” he added.
At the present time, the Rheinmetall concern is producing about 250 tanks in connection with the war in Ukraine and is operating at full capacity.
“We have already put more than 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles into service, and by the end of the year there will be about 100 of them. About 30 tanks out of 50 Leopard 2A4s are ready. There are also about 100 old Leopard 1 models, of which we can currently reuse 88 “, – added the head of the enterprise.
He also believes that the Russian-Ukrainian war is likely to last for years because the Armed Forces of Ukraine do not have enough equipment to retake all of their territories.
Recall, on February 9, it was reported that Ukraine could receive modern Panther tanks. Rheinmetall is negotiating with Ukraine to transfer this equipment to the battlefield. In addition, Kyiv is interested in the supply of infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) Lynx.
On March 3, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine needed artillery, tanks and aircraft. He noted that a tank coalition had already been formed, and therefore he was confident that Ukraine would receive a tank army.
