Like many other NATO and EU members, Germany is ramping up arms production to help Ukraine fight Russia’s full-scale invasion in the short term and develop the capabilities necessary to counter any future threats to its security.
In pursuit of those aims, Düsseldorf-based defense contractor Rheinmetall on Wednesday opened an arms and explosives manufacturing plant in the German state of Lower Saxony, the largest munitions factory in Europe.
The factory’s significance was underscored by the fact that NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte was on hand to mark the event alongside Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.
DW’s Roman Goncharenko spoke with Pistorius about this and other defense manufacturing projects, as well as troop numbers and the possibility of a return to military conscription.
How is Germany ramping up arms production?
Pistorius told DW that the new factory was key to helping Ukraine and that its quick completion sent a message. “That’s what matters: sending the signal that we can do it faster, we want to do it faster, and production is ramping up. These are the crucial signals, for example, and above all for the resilience of the Ukrainian armed forces,” he explained.
Pistorius said the plant would produce 350,000 rounds of ammunition annually from 2027. In underlining Germany’s commitment to “supply Ukraine and help replenish the stocks of NATO partners,” Pistorius noted, “Rheinmetall also plans to build plants in eastern Europe and southeastern Europe, both for explosives and ammunition.”
Speaking of the 14-month completion of the factory, Pistorius told DW that it showed “excellent cooperation between all those involved, whether it be the federal government or the state of Lower Saxony.” Pistorius also praised Rheinmetall and Papperger’s determination, as well as thanking current and previous state and local leaders.
What about German-Ukrainian cooperation and Taurus deliveries?
DW asked Pistorius for his assessment of cooperation between Germany and Ukraine. He said that common ground had been found and that he was impressed by the flexibility and adaptability displayed over and over again by Ukraine’s forces.
“I am very satisfied with the results to date,” said the minister, “but there is still a way to go.”
When asked whether long-range Taurus missiles could be included in security guarantees for Ukraine if a ceasefire is achieved, Pistorius declined to comment, saying only that he would “put them on the table.”
Taurus missiles have been on Kyiv’s wishlist for a long time but Berlin has resisted calls to send them for fear of getting dragged into direct conflict for supplying such lethal long-range capability, preferring instead to invest in new joint production projects as well as supplying US-made Patriot air defense systems.
Will Germany return to military conscription?
DW also raised the issue of whether Germany will reinstate military conscription, suspended in 2011, if the army cannot meet its recruitment targets.
“If there are not enough volunteers and we cannot reach the numbers we want to achieve,” he said, “then compulsory elements will have to be introduced by cabinet and parliamentary decision.”
However, Pistorius voiced optimism, saying the army had “a clear growth path” and that recruiting trends were pointing in the right direction. He said, “We will probably exceed this year’s target of 15,000 recruits,” adding that targets will increase annually after that.
The minister said that Germany plans to train a total of just under 110,000 new reservists between now and the end of 2029. He added that this is exactly the target the country is aiming for.
Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko
