Rheinmetall’s subsidiary in Spain makes a speciality of producing ammunition provided to Ukraine
An explosion on the ammunition manufacturing unit of Rheinmetall’s subsidiary within the southeastern Spanish municipality of Murcia on Thursday injured six staff, considered one of whom is in critical situation. The German arms large is a serious provider of weapons to Ukraine.
The incident on the industrial website in Javali Viejo occurred at roughly 4:20pm, based on emergency providers. A number of workers, aged between 30 and 52, suffered burns, contusions, and smoke inhalation. A 52-year-old man sustained a traumatic mind harm. 5 individuals have been taken to a hospital, whereas one other man obtained remedy on the website.
Germany’s Rheinmetall acquired the Spanish firm Expal Methods in August 2023 in a deal value $1.3 billion. The corporate, now known as Expal Munitions, specializes in manufacturing aerial bombs, mortar and medium-caliber rounds, fuses and rocket propulsion programs, in addition to 155mm artillery shells provided to Ukraine by Spain and different EU states.
Expal Munitions operates seven services in Spain, together with the plant in Murcia. Nevertheless, particular particulars about which vegetation produce munitions for Kiev haven’t been publicly disclosed.
Rheinmetall introduced a major order for 155mm ammunition value €142 million ($155 million) in December 2023. Whereas the corporate didn’t disclose the shopper, its assertion indicated the order got here from “a NATO accomplice nation” dedicated to offering long-term navy help to Ukraine. The supply was scheduled for 2025, with manufacturing set to happen at Rheinmetall’s services in Spain. In late December 2024, the corporate introduced one other contract to provide Ukraine with “tens of 1000’s of 155mm artillery propellant cost modules of varied varieties.”
The German arms large, which has a market capitalization of round $34 billion, additionally produces an unlimited array of different weapons provided to Ukraine, together with Leopard tanks, armored personnel carriers and air protection programs. Because the escalation of the Ukraine battle, the corporate’s income have reportedly practically doubled as of the primary half of 2024.
Rheinmetall beforehand introduced a plan to open 4 arms factories in Ukraine, with the primary facility already operational as of October 2024. Requested whether or not the services could be a “reputable goal” for the Russian navy, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov replied, “In fact, sure.”
Moscow has denounced Western involvement within the battle, arguing that help for Kiev advantages the military-industrial advanced on the expense of EU and US taxpayers and Ukrainian lives. Russia maintains that no quantity of navy assist to Kiev will change the result of the battle and can solely extend the combating.
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