Rheinmetall opens ammunition factory: 500 jobs and NATO visit in Unterlüß!

Rheinmetall opens ammunition factory: 500 jobs and NATO visit in Unterlüß!

On August 27, 2025, the new ammunition factory of the arms company Rheinmetall will open its doors in Unterlüß in the Celle district. High-ranking guests have lined up for this opening, including NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and politicians Lars Klingbeil and Boris Pistorius, both from the SPD. The new production facilities will produce 25,000 pieces of 155mm artillery ammunition in the first year, with the aim of increasing this number to an impressive 350,000 pieces per year by 2027. This could not only establish the defense company as a significant employer in the district, but also create around 500 new jobs.

But not everything is free of controversy. The peace initiative “Friedensratschlag Lüneburger Heide” loudly criticizes the opening and calls for protests. The municipality of Südheide, on the other hand, sees Rheinmetall's plans as an opportunity to increase its trade tax revenue. Mayor Katharina Ebeling (CDU) even reports on positive developments in the town, such as the renovation of the swimming pool and the extensive equipment of the community center. Lower Saxony's Economics Minister Tonne describes the new plant as a "valuable signal" at a time when the pressure on the arms industry is greater than ever.

Orders and international connections

Rheinmetall does good business in international business. The company recently received an order worth around 142 million euros to supply artillery ammunition to Ukraine. This deal involves a five-figure number of 155 mm artillery shells, which will be manufactured in Spain by the subsidiary Rheinmetall Expal Munitions. Delivery of the bullets is planned for 2025.

The production and delivery of around 40,000 bullets from an earlier order volume are already planned for 2024. In addition, in October 2023, the German federal government placed a further order for more than 100,000 155 mm bullets, which is worth a mid-three-digit million amount. In total, Rheinmetall plans to produce around 700,000 artillery shells at locations in Germany and other countries such as Spain, South Africa and Australia by 2024.

The role of NATO

Increased cooperation between NATO and the defense industry is a central issue in the current geopolitical situation. Through the Defense Production Action Plan (DPAP) 2023, NATO makes it clear that the production of military goods should be accelerated, especially ammunition and weapons. It is high time to quickly integrate technologies into existing products and increase production capacities. Close cooperation between states, industry and NATO is essential to ensure the necessary resources against impending threats.

A further focus on key strategies shows that NATO also wants to strengthen international relations with non-NATO states such as Australia and New Zealand. These measures are intended to improve interoperability and the efficiency of defense production during current challenges and to secure raw material supplies in the long term.

In summary, it can be said that the opening ceremony in Unterlüß is anything but a simple event. It is at the center of a complex web of economic, political and social developments that are important at regional and international levels.

For more information about the opening of Rheinmetall's ammunition factory and its plans, please visit the coverage of NDR, the details of the orders to Ukraine Rheinmetall and NATO's strategic planning Defense Network.