German defense industry giant Rheinmetall became the first Western defense company to enter Ukraine in May 2023. The collaboration with the company keeps steadily expanding, says Herman Smetanin, CEO of JSC Ukrainian Defense Industry.
"In our plans is further development and deepening of cooperation. In the short-term perspective, proceeding to the repair of artillery systems," Smetanin said in an interview with ArmyInform.
Read more: It Became Known When Rheinmetall Launch Production of 155mm Projectiles in Ukraine
Defense Express notes, Smetanin did not specify which artillery systems will be repaired. However, given Rheinmetall's portfolio, it is likely to involve the Panzerhaubitze 2000 (PzH 2000) self-propelled gun, as this is the only artillery system associated with the company.
Although it would be more correct to say the PzH 2000 is produced by KNDS (precisely, by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, the German part of this conglomerate), Rheinmetall plays a critical role by supplying key components, particularly the barrels of the 155mm L52 howitzer gun. Recently, Rheinmetall received another order for these barrels, likely destined for Ukraine.
Still, full maintenance of the PzH 2000 without KNDS is impossible, as emphasized by the PzH 2000 service center in Lithuania. The cooperation between Rheinmetall and KNDS in creating the artillery system means that comprehensive repairs require both entities to be involved.
Currently, the Lithuanian maintenance center handles all repairs, which means complicated logistics. Establishing similar facilities in Ukraine will not only expedite the restoration process but also increase capacity by operating two centers simultaneously.
Besides addressing artillery system maintenance, Smetanin highlighted another area of cooperation with Rheinmetall: the production of the company's latest infantry fighting vehicle, the Lynx, in Ukraine. Rheinmetall has announced that the first Lynx vehicle should be produced in the country by the end of this year.
Read more: Pitfalls in Repair of PzH 2000 for Ukraine: One Howitzer Sacrificed to Refit the Others
