Rheinmetall Says Germany Surpassed US in Munitions Production Capacity

German defense company Rheinmetall is experiencing rapid growth and strong demand for jobs. Chief executive Armin Papperger said the company received around 350,000 applications last year, including 250,000 in Germany. Rheinmetall currently employs about 44,000 people, Handelsblatt reported.

The company has expanded at an annual rate of 30%–50% in recent years. It expects growth of about 40% this year, with sales projected at €14bn–€15bn ($15bn–$16bn). Most of its output is exported, primarily to NATO countries.

Rheinmetall works with thousands of suppliers, many from the automotive sector. By 2030, its workforce could reach up to 70,000, with hundreds of thousands more employed across its supply chain.

Production capacity has increased sharply. In military trucks, output rose from 600 to 4,500 units per year. In medium-caliber ammunition, capacity grew from about 800,000 to more than 4 million rounds, while artillery production increased from 70,000 to 1.1 million rounds. Papperger said Germany now has greater production capacity in conventional ammunition than the United States.

He expects growth to slow only between 2035 and 2040. This could lead to overcapacity, which he said governments should address, for example by supporting the maintenance of production reserves.

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