WorldPosted at: Sep 17 2026 8:54PM


German missile stockpiles at 'worrying low': Rheinmetall CEO warns

Berlin, Sep 17 (UNI) Warning of Germany's missile stockpiles remaining at a 'worryingly' low level and that defence production needs to accelerate sharply, Armin Papperger, CEO of arms manufacturing corporation Rheinmetall, also outlined the company's plans for cruise missiles, humanoid robots and space technology.
Germany is seeking to significantly strengthen its defence capabilities by expanding beyond ammunition and missiles to air defence, drones and emerging technologies.
Speaking to Euronews at the keel-laying ceremony for the third Type 424 fleet service boat in Wolgast, he discussed Germany's rearmament plans, production bottlenecks, the Skyranger 30 air-defence system and technologies that could shape future warfare.
Asked about his warning over low missile stocks, he confirmed that German inventories remained a concern and said Rheinmetall and other manufacturers were launching major investment programmes.
"There are severe bottlenecks in rocket motors, but also in warheads, and we have to become dramatically faster here to get Germany, but also Europe and NATO, back up to target levels that are sufficient if we are threatened," he said.
On the Skyranger 30 air-defence turret, Papperger said Rheinmetall was contracted to begin series deliveries in 2027 and was currently facing only minimal delays. Several technologies still need to be updated or integrated, including the chassis, radar and missiles, he added, maintaining, "Capacity in the Skyranger segment is being ramped up massively. From the end of next year we will build, or be able to build, up to 400 a year. So I really do not see any cause for concern."
"I am firmly convinced that together with BAAINBw, and with the ministry, we will find a good solution in this area," he said, referring to Germany's Federal Office for Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support.
Rheinmetall was also producing simpler munitions in larger quantities, but he made it clear that Skyranger could intercept missiles travelling at up to Mach 3, which could not be achieved with simpler systems. He also described it as a multi-capability platform that could respond to changing threats.
Papperger said the company's .50-calibre guns could be used against light, category-one drones, while jet-powered drones presented a far greater challenge.
He said medium-calibre ammunition production had increased from less than one million rounds to four million. Artillery ammunition output had risen from 70,000 to 1.5 million rounds, while tank ammunition production had reached 240,000 rounds from between 40,000 and 60,000 in previous years.
The company is also more than doubling production of trucks and other logistical and tactical vehicles. "The problem at the moment is that we do not have the orders to do even more," Papperger said.
He said Rheinmetall had committed €30 billion to an investment programme over six years, describing the scale of current spending as extraordinary. He also said the presence of the German defence minister at the event represented a positive signal that the government was focused not only on expanding capacity but on ensuring it was used sustainably.
Papperger said that had given him greater confidence that the federal government was taking responsibility for rebuilding Germany's defence industrial capacity.
"Robots will come, that is absolutely clear," he said, adding that Rheinmetall has a research centre in Bremen working on humanoid robots. The company does not yet have a serial-production humanoid system, he said, but is investing heavily in the technology.
Space is another major area of investment, including satellite construction and communications processing, he said, adding, "For combined-arms warfare you need artillery, armoured weapons, conventional ammunition, drones and missiles."
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