German tank manufacturer Rheinmetall is in the process of negotiating with the Ukrainian government to build a tank factory in Ukraine. Rheinmetall can produce about 400 Panther tanks annually.
Armin Papperger, head of Rheinmetall, said that the approximate cost of building the plant will be 200 million euros. Its annual output can reach up to 400 Panther type main battle tanks.
Tank plant in Ukraine can protect air defense
Papperger called the talks with the Ukrainian government “promising” and hopes for a decision “within the next two months.”
The Panther is a new tank concept presented by Rheinmetall in the summer of 2022. It was developed on the basis of the Leopard 2 tank and is most convenient for countries that already have Leopard tanks in service. Ukraine has already received the first “Leopards” from the allies.
Papperger is confident that the tank factory can be protected from Russian air attacks with the help of air defense.
Papperger believes that Ukraine does not have enough weapons to liberate all territories
He believes Ukraine needs between 600 and 800 tanks to win the war, noting that even if Germany gives up all 300 Leopard 2 tanks it has, it will still be too few.
At the moment, Rheinmetall produces about 250 tanks. Papperger said the company is operating at full speed and has already put more than 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles into service, with about 100 by the end of the year.
He also said that out of 50 Leopard 2A4 tanks, about 30 are ready. In addition, Papperger added that there are about 100 old Leopard 1 models, of which the concern can restore 88 vehicles.
Papperger believes that the war will continue “probably for years” and Ukraine does not have enough weapons to completely reclaim its territory.
“Western allies are sending enough weapons there to enable Ukraine to defend itself, but today the Ukrainians do not have enough equipment to fully retake their territory,” he explained.
Premiere of the new generation tank KF51 Panther from Rheinmetall: video
