German tank maker Leopard 2 establishes JV with one of Ukraine’s defense companies
22 January 10:49
Germany’s KNDS Deutschland, a manufacturer of Leopard 2 tanks, has officially opened a joint venture with a Ukrainian defense company. This was announced by the Minister of Strategic Industries Herman Smetanin, reports
According to him, the newly created company will specialize in the maintenance and repair of military equipment supplied by the German company to the Ukrainian Defense Forces. The first samples of this equipment appeared in Ukraine in 2022.
The Minister also said that Ukrainian specialists have already been trained in Germany, and the first systems have already been installed at the facilities.
Who else does the Ukrainian defense industry cooperate with?
on November 6, the German company Rheinmetall started production of Lynx combat vehicles in Ukraine.
Prior to that, on June 10, a joint production site of Ukroboronprom and Rheinmetall, an armored vehicle repair and production shop, was launched in Ukraine. It became the first project implemented within the partnership between Ukroboronprom and the German defense giant.
It was also reported that Rheinmetall plans to open a company in Ukraine that will specialize in air defense systems.
In general, according to Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger, the German arms company plans to open at least four plants in Ukraine.
Not only Ukroboronprom cooperates with international partners
In the Ministry of Defense, the Defense Procurement Agency is responsible for purchasing weapons, ammunition, and military equipment, including foreign ones.
This agency also cooperates with Rheinmetall: in December 2024, it signed a contract with the concern for the supply of 155 mm artillery ammunition.
The Defense Procurement Agency signed its first direct contract with a foreign manufacturer in February last year. It was a contract with a Swedish manufacturing company and it was made possible thanks to the support of the Swedish Defense Materials Administration, FMV.
In October, the contract portfolio was expanded by cooperation with the defense concern KNDS France. This agreement provided for the purchase of 155-mm CAESAR self-propelled artillery systems. The company recently opened its representative office in Ukraine.
Two weeks ago, in her column for Ukrayinska Pravda, the head of the Agency, Maryna Bezrukova , said that the Defense Procurement Agency had already signed 50 contracts with global arms manufacturers from 13 countries. These are direct contracts with Bulgarian manufacturers, although until recently this seemed impossible. These are agreements with such corporations as Rheinmetal, KNDS and many others that are not subject to publication.
