Rheinmetall Launches Construction of Cutting-Edge F-35 Facility in Germany with Groundbreaking Event
Rheinmetall, along with US-based Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin, has initiated the construction of a cutting-edge facility for the F-35 Lightning II combat aircraft center fuselage. A ground-breaking event was held on 1 August 2023 at the Weeze Airport location in the Kleve region of western Germany. The ceremony was graced by Hendrik Wüst, governor of North Rhine-Westphalia. A multitude of distinguished guests from the spheres of politics, civil society, the military, and industry were present, including Mona Neubaur, the minister for economic affairs, industry, climate action, and energy of North Rhine-Westphalia; Vice Admiral Carsten Stawitzki, chief of the equipment division in the German defense ministry; Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz, supreme commander of the German Air Force; Annette Lehnigk-Emden, head of the Federal Office of Equipment, Information Technology and Support, Germany’s procurement agency; and US Consul General for NRW, Pauline Kao.
The world’s leading combat aircraft, the F-35 Lightning II, is currently being acquired by the German Air Force. Rheinmetall is investing over €100 million in the establishment of this innovative production facility. Incorporating advanced technology developed and implemented by Northrop Grumman for the F-35 center fuselage at its site in Palmdale, California, this anticipated factory will operate under the aegis of Rheinmetall Aviation Services GmbH. The facility will encompass 30,000 square meters of manufacturing space. More than 400 highly skilled personnel will staff this ultra-modern plant, which will also feature logistics and storage areas, research and testing hubs, educational spaces, and quality assurance units.
This initiative signifies the establishment of a secondary source for F-35 center fuselages, enabling Northrop Grumman and Rheinmetall to collaboratively manufacture up to 185 center sections each year.
The Weeze facility is projected to produce no less than 400 F-35 fuselage sections for the air forces of Germany and allied nations. As an integrated technology group, Rheinmetall will leverage its extensive background in crafting advanced components as well as in the aerospace sector. Production is anticipated to commence in 2025.
Furthermore, Rheinmetall plans to incorporate additional companies possessing relevant technical expertise into the F-35 programme, thus creating or securing numerous employment opportunities across various industries.
“With the F-35 factory here in Weeze, we are establishing a new hub for aerospace innovation in North Rhine-Westphalia and ushering in a new era of German-American collaboration,” stated Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger. “The F-35 Lightning II is a fundamental component of Western defense readiness. Just as the former Royal Air Force base at Weeze served as a cornerstone of NATO air defense throughout the Cold War, the Rheinmetall factory in Weeze is set to play a pivotal role for NATO’s F-35 user nations. We recognize this responsibility and are committed to ensuring the triumph of our F-35 fuselage production.”
“The demonstrated success of our Integrated Assembly Line ensures that Northrop Grumman can produce the next-generation aircraft at an economical cost, meeting the demands of an expanding array of international customers,” remarked Tom Jones, corporate vice president and president, Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems. “Coupled with Rheinmetall’s experience with the German Armed Forces and European industry, cooperation with Rheinmetall and Lockheed Martin will cultivate essential skills and invigorate the local economy with high-tech job prospects.”
