Rheinmetall Ukrainian Defense Industry, Rheinmetall’s joint venture with state-owned Ukrainian Defense Industry JSC, has opened its first service center to speed up the maintenance and repair of German military equipment on Ukrainian soil.
The new facility has begun servicing Marder infantry fighting vehicles, with plans to repair Leopard 1 and Leopard 2 main battle tanks and other German-made systems in the future.
According to Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger, the company will collaborate with its partners and produce necessary materials to maximize availability and ensure rapid replenishment of spare parts for various systems.
“We are also reactivating original supply chains and integrating local production in Ukraine,” he added.
Dmytro Klimenkov, deputy minister of defense of Ukraine, said the facility will help enhance the efficiency and the defense capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Kyiv has been defending itself against the Russian invasion since February 2022.
“The opening of a joint service center with Rheinmetall is not only a step towards the victory of Ukraine, but also an important stage in the construction of the arsenal of the free world,” said Oleksandr Kamyshin, the Ukrainian minister of strategic industries.
Prior to the center’s operation, Rheinmetall brought Ukrainian specialists, including industrial mechanics and mechatronics engineers, to its sites in Germany for training.