Rheinmetall to Deploy Tanks in Ukraine and Step Up Local Production
According to a recent report, the German defense company Rheinmetall is set to begin delivering tanks to Ukraine this August. The revelation comes via Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, outlining a multi-pronged effort that combines training, local production, and upgraded reconnaissance capabilities.
Initial training has already commenced in Germany, with the first cohort of twelve Ukrainian personnel now undergoing instruction. An additional twelve trainees are slated to join them in the near term, signaling a substantial, sustained collaboration between Rheinmetall and Ukrainian forces.
Beyond training, Rheinmetall outlines plans to accelerate tank production within Ukraine itself. The approach envisions leasing local manufacturing facilities and bringing production lines online to NATO standards on one or two assembly belts. This strategy aims to bolster Ukrainian defense capabilities while embedding industrial activity in the region.
Earlier assurances from the Rheinmetall leadership indicated that by the end of 2023 the company would supply Ukraine with an unmanned Luna NG complex designed for aerial reconnaissance. The system is described as a capable asset for real-time battlefield awareness, combining a robust drone fleet, ground control infrastructure, and support equipment.
Rheinmetall notes that the Luna NG has accumulated several thousand flight hours across international customers, underscoring its reliability and proven performance. The unmanned aerial system comprises a ground control station that can manage multiple UAVs, a launch catapult, a safety net for landing, and rapid-repair equipment to minimize downtime between missions. With a designed flight time exceeding 12 hours, Luna NG can conduct extended scans over hundreds of kilometers, delivering strategic reconnaissance information where it is most needed.
In parallel with equipment transfers, the broader policy environment remains a factor, particularly regarding the transfer of advanced fighters such as the F-16 to Ukraine. The formal conditions governing any such transfer are tied to NATO and allied security considerations, and the precise timing or terms would depend on evolving political and military assessments. This context matters for how Rheinmetall’s contributions are coordinated with international partners and Ukraine’s broader defense modernization agenda. [Source attribution: Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung]