Rheinmetall opens a plant in Germany to produce parts for the American F-35
The German defense group Rheinmetall has built a new plant in the German city of Wetzlar, where it will manufacture the central fuselage sections for the American fifth-generation fighter F-35. This is reported by the German weekly magazine Spiegel.
The construction of the plant cost approximately 200 million euros. According to the CEO of the concern, Armin Papperger, production will begin in a few days – "maybe even tomorrow".
The new components will be supplied to the American company Northrop Grumman, which will then integrate them into the overall aircraft assembly. Previously, these parts were manufactured exclusively in the USA.
Currently, 200 people work at the plant, and the staff is planned to be increased to over 400 by the fall of 2026. In normal operation, the plant will produce 30 central modules per year, but its capacity allows for an increase to 36.
The first finished product is planned to be shipped to the USA in the fall of 2026.
The F-35 is a state-of-the-art multi-role fighter jet capable of evading radar detection. It consists of approximately 300,000 components.
The German government has already ordered 35 of these aircraft to replace the outdated Tornadoes currently in service with the Bundeswehr.
Rheinmetall, which is actively expanding due to Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, has focused in recent years on the production of artillery, tanks, ammunition, and air defense systems.
Currently, it is also investing in the production of drones, satellites, and aircraft. Cooperation with American giants Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin is considered strategically important.
- German companies Rheinmetall and Quantum Systems have joint ventures with Ukraine.
- On June 30, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that another German defense company may soon appear in Ukraine.
