Rheinmetall Head: Air Defense Stockpiles in US and Europe Close to Exhaustion
Armin Papperger, CEO of the largest German defense concern Rheinmetall, stated in an interview with CNBC that air defense stockpiles in the US, Europe, and the Middle East are almost depleted.
Armin Papperger. Photo: AP Photo / Vadim Ghirda
According to Armin Papperger, demand for missiles and air defense systems is currently very high in all regions, which is why warehouses are already empty or close to it. He also noted that if the conflict in the Middle East continues for some more time, there may be practically no missile stockpiles left.
Papperger explained that one of the reasons for this situation is the widespread use of drones, which are relatively cheap, but require much more expensive means to destroy them. Therefore, effective defense now requires a combination of different technologies — missiles, artillery, and interception systems. Rheinmetall plans to focus on such a comprehensive model, increasing investments in production and counting on new orders, including from Middle Eastern countries.
He also emphasized that the emergence of drones has significantly influenced the nature of modern wars, although it has not completely changed them: the key remains the combined use of different types of weaponry. As an example, he cited the war in Ukraine, where drones have shown their effectiveness.
Papperger had previously warned about the critical state of weapons stockpiles in Europe, noting that in the event of large-scale hostilities, ammunition could run out very quickly. The company plans to significantly increase the production of artillery shells — up to 1.5 million per year by 2030. At the same time, Rheinmetall's order volume is already approaching 70 billion euros and could significantly increase.
According to international studies, Europe has significantly increased its weapons imports in recent years and now accounts for a large share of global supplies. Most of these weapons come from the United States, while exports from Russia have significantly decreased.
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