Lockheed Martin, Rheinmetall to Jointly Produce ATACMS Missiles in Germany
The agreement aims to meet rising European demand for locally produced munitions and expand NATO’s long-term industrial resilience.
- On Tuesday, July 7, 2026, Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall signed a memorandum of understanding at the NATO Summit Defense Industry Forum in Ankara to co-produce the Army Tactical Missile System at Rheinmetall's Unterluess site, marking the first manufacturing location outside the United States.
- Backed by U.S. and German governments, the partnership aims to create a European "centre of excellence" for ATACMS manufacturing and distribution, expanding on missile-cooperation agreements the companies first signed in 2024 and broadened in April 2025.
- Rheinmetall's Unterluess facility, which employs about 4,000 people, has expanded rapidly with a new artillery-ammunition plant and a rocket-motor factory nearing completion, with production of guided missile components scheduled to begin as early as 2027.
- Lockheed Martin will continue operating its Camden, Arkansas, production line until the European transition is complete, as the company prioritizes the newer Precision Strike Missile to replace ATACMS in the United States arsenal.
- While targeting annual production of 600 to 800 units between 2028 and 2029, the project's success remains dependent on U.S. government consent regarding the transfer of sensitive ATACMS technology.
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39 Articles
Germany is set to become the first country outside the US to produce ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles. Thanks to an agreement signed between the US-based defense company Lockheed Martin and the German defense industry giant Rheinmetall, the goal is to establish a new missile production hub in Europe.
Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall have sealed an unprecedented agreement to produce long-range tactical missile systems on German territory
Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall are planning a new factory in Unterlüß. ATACMS rockets are to be produced there for the first time outside the USA.
Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday to jointly produce the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) in Germany, marking the first time the ballistic missile will be produced outside the United States.
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