Mittelstandspresse
16.10.2026
Rheinmetall’s ‘Firepower’ project: Albacete site commences new medium-calibre production – annual capacity of around three million components
Düsseldorf, 16.10.2026 (PresseBox) - Rheinmetall, one of the largest ammunition manufacturers in the Western world, is pressing ahead with its ‘Firepower’ project and continues to significantly expand its production capacity. In October 2026, its subsidiary Rheinmetall Expal Munitions will commission its new modern medium-calibre production facility at the Albacete site. An expansion ceremony was attended by the Spanish Secretary of State for Defence, Amparo Valcarce; the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Heiko Thoms; the Mayor of Albacete, Manuel Serrano López; and the Chairman of the Executive Board of Rheinmetall AG, Armin Papperger.
The Albacete site is set to increase its workforce by almost a third – from around 210 employees at present to around 300. Thanks to a high degree of automation, state-of-the-art next-generation production facilities enable key components for medium-calibre cartridges to be manufactured even faster and in larger quantities. Production capacity for mortar weapons and systems – the site’s traditional core competence – is also being significantly expanded.
Rheinmetall has invested around 20 million euros in expanding its production capacities at the Albacete site. A building has been modernised and extended to accommodate the new medium-calibre production line. Covering an area of approximately 5,700 square metres, the site now features a new technical building infrastructure, new machinery and new manufacturing capabilities. Similarly, a new building with 5,200 square metres of floor space was constructed in less than a year to expand the production of mortar systems. Aircraft maintenance will also be possible in this new hall
Armin Papperger, Chief Executive of Rheinmetall AG: “Albacete is one of our key centres of expertise in the field of ammunition components and weapon systems manufacturing. It makes perfect sense to draw on this expertise of our colleagues for our ‘Firepower’ project. We are introducing a new capability to this site in order to significantly increase medium-calibre production. At the same time, we are strengthening the plant’s existing core competence, namely the manufacture of mortar systems. Albacete will thus be of strategic importance not only for Rheinmetall, but also for Spain and Europe, and will contribute to credible defence capabilities.”
Amparo Valcarce, Secretary of State for Defence, said: “A credible deterrent requires armed forces that are well prepared, properly equipped and capable of sustaining their operations over time. This makes a strong defence industry essential, because the best way to preserve peace is to be prepared to defend it.”
In the medium-calibre sector, Albacete can cover calibres ranging from 20 mm to 35 mm. Annual production capacity will be around 1.2 million projectiles and approximately 1.8 million cartridge cases. These components are further processed at other sites within the Rheinmetall network – including the plant in Burgos – to manufacture various types of ammunition for infantry fighting vehicles and anti aircraft gun systems.
These include kinetic energy time fuze munition, armour-piercing projectiles and AHEAD ammunition for anti-aircraft systems and counter-unmanned aerial systems applications. In the field of mortar systems, annual production capacity is set to reach 40 Dual-Eimos mortar systems in 81 mm calibre. It will also be possible to manufacture more than 650 mortars in 60 mm, 81 mm and 120 mm calibres per year.
The Albacete site will collaborate across Europe with other Rheinmetall sites in Spain, Germany and Switzerland to meet the needs of NATO partners and other allies. A local supplier network creates opportunities for businesses throughout the region.
About the Rheinmetall plant in Albacete
The Rheinmetall Expal ammunition plant in Albacete has established itself as a centre of excellence for the production of ammunition components and the manufacture of various types of mortars in the 60 mm, 81 mm and 120 mm calibres, as well as related systems. The focus is particularly on the production of the EIMOS 81 models and the forthcoming series production of the EIMOS 120. Thanks to its high degree of specialisation, the technical expertise of its teams and its ongoing commitment to improving industrial processes, the plant ranks among the Group’s leading sites.
It also utilises advanced manufacturing technologies, enabling it to efficiently produce a wide range of medium-calibre projectiles and cartridge cases (from 20 to 35 mm), whilst ensuring the highest standards of quality, reliability and competitiveness to meet the requirements of its customers and markets.
Background: Rheinmetall’s ‘Firepower’ project and further capacity expansion
With the “Firepower” project, Rheinmetall is responding to the urgent demand for ammunition in the Western world. The Group aims to achieve an annual production capacity of 1.5 million rounds of 155mm artillery ammunition, 240,000 rounds of 120mm anti-tank ammunition and 4 million rounds of medium calibre ammunition by 2030 at the latest.
Rheinmetall is investing heavily in its production facilities, both through the construction of new ammunition plants – such as those in Unterlüß (Germany) and Baisogala (Lithuania) – and through the further expansion of existing sites, such as the current project in Albacete and, most recently, in Aschau am Inn (Germany).
Ansprechpartner
Oliver Hoffmann
+49 (211) 473 47 48
+49 (211) 473 41 58
Zuständigkeitsbereich: Leiter Presse- und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit
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Rheinmetall’s ‘Firepower’ project: Albacete site commences new medium-calibre production – annual capacity of around three million components
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