German company Rheinmetall to Produce Panther KF51 Tanks in Ukraine

German company Rheinmetall is negotiating with Kyiv to manufacture its newest tank, the Panther KF51, along with air defense systems, automotive equipment, and ammunition in Ukraine.
Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger said this in an interview with Handelsblatt. “Attempts are being made to conclude some agreements on cooperation and create joint ventures with Ukrainian companies in the coming weeks,” he said.
“Just as the Lynx infantry fighting vehicle is being manufactured at a plant in Hungary, our newly developed Panther main battle tank can roll off the assembly line at a Ukrainian plant based on a comparable model,” he said.
Papperger asserted that if negotiations with Kyiv are successful, the German government would have to approve the export of German-manufactured armored vehicles.
He noted that investments in new enterprises will come from the Ukrainian state.
In March this year, it was reported that the Rheinmetall is negotiating the construction of a tank factory in Ukraine. The plant could produce up to 400 Panther KF51 tanks annually.