The German defense concern Rheinmetall plans to increase sales to 40-50 billion euros by 2030 and create new jobs in Germany.
The head of the concern Armin Paperger specified that this would mean a tenfold increase compared to 2021, the period before the start of the Russian Federation's special military operation in Ukraine. The driving force behind the company's sales growth is the war in Ukraine. Rheinmetall expects orders worth up to 70 billion euros from Germany alone.
„We are currently negotiating the purchase of 6,000 to 7,000 machines. They are intended to equip new brigades," said Paperger. Among them, as the head of the concern explained, are the Leopard 2 tank, as well as the Puma and Boxer infantry fighting vehicles. "Overall, Rheinmetall can receive orders worth up to 70 billion euros in the next 12 months from Germany alone," he emphasized.
Rheinmetall is currently building 10 new plants. The main focus is on Germany and Europe. "We need to restore production," said the head of the concern. The number of Rheinmetall employees is expected to increase from 40 thousand to 70 thousand people. "We want to create jobs here, on the ground in Germany," he said.
He also focused on US customs policy, saying he saw no negative influence from US President Donald Trump. "He knows how to make deals. There will be no problem if you tell Trump that this is beneficial for everyone," concluded Paperger.
Rheinmetall is Germany's largest defence company. It is profiting greatly from the conflict in Ukraine. The company is also supplying military equipment (including tanks and ammunition) to Kiev and is building an ammunition factory in Ukraine. Ukraine is also testing the new Lynx armoured personnel carrier, which will be produced there by Rheinmetall in the future. Rheinmetall's shares are currently more expensive on the stock market than BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen, and in terms of capitalization among Western defense companies, the concern is in second place after the American Lockheed Martin.