German defense group Rheinmetall has opened a new ammunition supply channel for Ukraine. For the first time, the company is delivering 155 mm artillery rounds to Kyiv from its Werk Niedersachsen facility in Unterluss.
According to Rheinmetall, the shipment includes tens of thousands of rounds, though the exact number is not disclosed. More than half of the order has already been handed over to Ukraine, while the remaining shells and propelling charges are expected to be delivered by the end of 2026.
New production capacity enters the chain
The delivery concerns RH1412 shells, which Rheinmetall describes as a new product in its artillery portfolio. The company says the ammunition is compatible with various 155 mm artillery systems and offers longer range and strong effect.
Until now, Ukraine received Rheinmetall ammunition from other parts of the company’s production network. Adding the Unterluss site is important because European defense producers are still trying to overcome the shortage of large-caliber ammunition caused by Russia’s full-scale war.
European industrial signal
Rheinmetall has been expanding production of large-caliber ammunition since 2022 and aims to reach roughly 1.5 million 155 mm shells per year by 2030. For Ukraine, the new channel means more stable access to NATO-standard artillery ammunition. For Europe, it shows that newly mobilized industrial capacity is gradually becoming part of real supply chains.
