Partnership for security: Rheinmetall and Lockheed Martin to produce missiles in Europe together
1 May 08:49
German defense concern Rheinmetall and international aerospace and defense technology company Lockheed Martin have agreed to expand their existing cooperation. This was announced in a joint statement by the companies, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
Rheinmetall, which has access to the markets of many countries as a leading manufacturer of defense systems in Europe, and Lockheed Martin, as a leading international manufacturer of missiles and rockets, have announced their intention to create a European center of excellence for the production of missiles and rockets.
The competence center, led by Rheinmetall, will operate mainly in Germany and other European countries. As noted, the implementation of the idea depends on the approval of the US and German governments.
According to Ray Piselli, vice president of international affairs at Lockheed Martin, “this partnership is designed to help European customers fulfill their commitments to NATO.”
“By combining Rheinmetall’s deep expertise with Lockheed Martin’s advanced missile technology, we are creating a solid foundation for meeting security needs. This partnership will strengthen the defense industry and create jobs in the United States and Europe,” said a Lockheed Martin spokesperson.
According to Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall AG, “Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall will complement each other perfectly with their specific skills and technological expertise.”
What you need to know about Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin Corporation, headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, is a global defense technology company that fosters innovation and advances scientific discovery.
Lockheed Martin ranks third in the ranking of the world’s best aerospace and defense brands. According to the Brand Finance Aerospace & Defense 2025 report, the brand value increased by 16% to USD 11 billion over the year. This was achieved due to the growth of global defense budgets and the corporation’s leading role in the development of hypersonic missiles.
Lockheed Martin has been a partner of German industry for over 50 years and continues to develop these partnerships.
In 2023, Rheinmetall and Lockheed Martin joined forces to jointly develop the GMARS multiple launch rocket system to meet the growing need for long-range rocket artillery. The rocket system was first presented to the public in Paris in the summer of 2024 at the Eurosatory exhibition.
What is known about the German defense concern
Düsseldorf-based Rheinmetall Group is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of ammunition, ground systems and defense electronics. The German concern is considered the world’s largest producer of artillery ammunition.
In 2024, Rheinmetall increased its revenue by 36%, which is a new record. The company’s revenue amounted to €9.751 billion. Since the beginning of 2025, Rheinmetall’s capitalization has increased by about 1.9 times to €50.7 billion.
As part of the F-35 international supply chain, Rheinmetall will begin production of the first of approximately 400 F-35 center fuselage sections in July 2025.
As a reminder, Rheinmetall cooperates with Ukraine in a variety of ways. It has already set up a repair plant for armored vehicles and is building a plant for the production of artillery shells. They also talked about the production of infantry fighting vehicles in Ukraine with the participation of the German concern Lynx and the possible construction of a plant in Ukraine to produce components for anti-aircraft systems.
