On behalf of the federal government
Rheinmetall supplies Ukraine with tens of thousands of mortar shells
November 8th, 2023, 3:15 p.m
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To combat the Russian invasion, Ukraine is being equipped, among other things, with weapons and ammunition from the German manufacturer Rheinmetall. Now the company is announcing a significant number of mortar shells for Kiev. German aid this year amounts to several billion euros.
The German arms company Rheinmetall has been commissioned by the federal government to produce around 100,000 mortar shells for Ukraine. Like the company in Düsseldorf announced, the delivery of the 120 millimeter caliber bullets should “begin in the short term” and “take place within the next two years”. The value of the order is “in the low three-digit” million euro range, Rheinmetall explained. According to the group, the delivery agreement is part of a further support package for Ukraine worth 400 million euros announced by the government almost two months ago.
As Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced at the time, this money would be used to pay for additional ammunition for the Ukrainian armed forces for their defensive battle against the Russian army, as well as winter equipment, among other things. Germany, together with its allies, has been providing massive support to Ukraine since the Russian attack began in 2022.
According to the government, as of November 1st, German military support in the current year alone amounts to 5.4 billion euros. Last year, Germany already provided two billion euros. In addition, commitment appropriations of around 10.5 billion euros are already planned for the budgets of the coming years.
Further deliveries in preparation
According to the government, the funds from the so-called German training initiative will be used to pass on Equipment from Bundeswehr stocks to Ukraine as well as deliveries from industry and joint deliveries financed with partners. Germany has already provided Ukraine with, among other things, air defense systems, main battle tanks, self-propelled howitzers, drones and rocket launchers as well as large quantities of ammunition, medical and cold protection equipment.
Further deliveries of weapons and equipment are already in preparation. According to the government, these include additional Patriot and IRIS-T air defense systems, Marder armored personnel carriers, mobile howitzers, reconnaissance drones, trucks and millions of rounds of ammunition.