Status: 02/17/2023 3:04 p.m
Rheinmetall has agreed to cooperate with the US companies Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. The German automotive supplier and armaments group wants to produce parts for the F-35 fighter plane.
The automotive supplier and armaments group Rheinmetall will in future act as a supplier for the construction of the US F-35 fighter plane. To this end, the Düsseldorf-based company has signed a cooperation agreement with the jet’s manufacturers, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman.
After that, Rheinmetall is to manufacture parts for the fuselage of the stealth bomber. “The production of the center fuselage sections for the F-35 in Germany is crucial to meet the growing global demand for the F-35,” said Lockheed Martin manager Mike Shoemaker.
New competencies in Germany
The cooperation underscores the importance of Rheinmetall in terms of security policy and brings important skills to Germany, the companies said. There will be a “real know-how transfer to Germany,” promised Rheinmetall boss Armin Papperger. A corresponding declaration of intent had been signed. Financial details were not disclosed.
Last year, the federal government decided to purchase 35 F-35 stealth jets. Among other things, the aircraft is intended to replace the Luftwaffe’s outdated Tornados as part of what is known as nuclear sharing. In the event of war, American nuclear weapons would be flown to the target by German fighter planes.