Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall to Build ATACMS in Germany

In a significant expansion of transatlantic defense manufacturing, U.S. aerospace giant Lockheed Martin and Germany's Rheinmetall have agreed to establish the first production line for the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) outside the United States. The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday, July 7, at the NATO Summit Defense Industry Forum in Ankara, Turkey, with the backing of both the American and German governments.

The planned joint venture aims to create a European center for the production, final assembly, and distribution of the precision-guided missiles to NATO members and allied European nations. Rheinmetall will host the new manufacturing line at its longstanding Unterluess facility in Lower Saxony, northern Germany. This site, which employs roughly 4,000 people, has recently been expanded with new artillery ammunition and rocket motor production capabilities.

The ATACMS is a surface-to-surface ballistic missile with a range of up to 190 miles (300 kilometers). It is launched from platforms like the M270 and HIMARS systems, which are already operated by the U.S. military and numerous allies. First fielded in 1991, the missile has seen...