Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall: Partnership in missile production

New deal? Rheinmetall may soon be manufacturing missiles for Lockheed Martin

2025-09-02 Source: dpa 1 min Reading Time

The US defense contractor Lockheed Martin has now announced that it intends to have Atacms and Hellfire missiles manufactured by Rheinmetall.

The US defense contractor Lockheed Martin has now let it be known that it is considering having its Atacms and Hellfire missiles (pictured) built by Rheinmetall in Unterlüß, Lower Saxony ...(Image: Lockheed Martin) — The US defense contractor Lockheed Martin has now let it be known that it is considering having its Atacms and Hellfire missiles (pictured) built by Rheinmetall in Unterlüß, Lower Saxony ...
(Image: Lockheed Martin)

After the Rheinmetall plant in Unterlüß was inaugurated today in terms of additional capacity for the production of 155-millimeter artillery shells, there is now news about the construction of missiles for Lockheed Martin. "We are already actively discussing additional production - including for Atacms and Hellfire missiles," Lockheed Martin's Head of Europe, Dennis Göge, confirmed to Wirtschaftswoche. However, the list has not yet been finalized. The missiles are also to be built in Unterlüß, as its expansion will provide even more scope for the production of missiles and guided rockets. The Atacms system is a tactical, ground-based and relatively large missile. The Hellfire is used from airborne systems.

Rheinmetall has long been a partner of Lockheed Martin

According to industry sources, the two companies are also negotiating the European production of rocket engines. However, Lockheed would not comment on this officially. However, Rheinmetall and the US company have been partners for some time. Rheinmetall is already building fuselage parts for Lockheed Martin's F-35 stealth bomber in Germany. In addition, the two companies announced back in April that they intended to jointly establish a European competence center for the manufacture and sale of missiles and rockets.

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