Rheinmetall continues to benefit from the ongoing war in Ukraine, securing a lucrative contract to supply mobile medical stations. The company’s order backlog has reached unprecedented levels.
Rheinmetall’s new medical container contract
Rheinmetall has secured another substantial order as a result of the Ukraine war, further filling its already full order books. This Düsseldorf-based arms manufacturer reported that its backlog reached 48.6 billion euros at the end of June 2024, marking a 62% increase from the previous year. This backlog includes expected call-offs from framework agreements and other customer commitments. The latest order from Ukraine includes eight additional medical stations, valued in the mid-double-digit million euro range.
According to the company, this procurement is part of the German government’s capacity-building initiative. Deliveries are set to begin this year and will continue through 2026. The mobile medical stations are equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including an operating room, an intensive care unit, and an X-ray container. These systems can operate autonomously for at least 48 hours, powered by generators and water tanks. Designed for frontline use, the stations enable life-saving procedures for critically injured individuals and are transported using Rheinmetall’s MAN Military Vehicles and trailers.
Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger stated, “This new order confirms that our initial deliveries of medical technology to Ukraine have proven effective. We are proud to contribute to the medical support of the Ukrainian armed forces with our capabilities.”
Training and previous deliveries
To ensure proper use of the six-container stations, Ukrainian personnel will undergo a week-long training program in Germany. This is not the first medical facility Rheinmetall has supplied to Ukraine; in September 2023, the company delivered a mobile field hospital with 32 patient beds. Additional medical stations were also delivered in 2023 and 2024.
In conjunction with the delivery of the medical stations, annual one-week training sessions in Germany are planned for the relevant Ukrainian personnel. This mirrors the training that took place in September 2023, where ten Ukrainian soldiers completed a 14-day program on the setup, transport, and operation of the hospital in Germany.
Rheinmetall’s rapid growth
Rheinmetall’s headquarters are in Düsseldorf, with its largest plant located in Unterlüß, Lower Saxony. The company also supplies military equipment to Ukraine, including refurbished tanks and much-needed artillery ammunition. Rheinmetall is a leading global producer of 155mm shells, a caliber heavily used by Ukraine.
The company’s weapon and ammunition division has seen its backlog more than triple to around 19 billion euros. Other divisions, such as those producing military trucks, have also grown, though not as significantly as the ammunition segment. According to Papperger, Rheinmetall has experienced unprecedented growth, driven by a strategic plan developed after the Crimea invasion. The company has expanded its capacity, made acquisitions, and built new factories. Recently, Rheinmetall announced plans to significantly increase tank production in Ukraine.
