Rheinmetall opens medium-calibre ammunition plant in Albacete, Spain, with capacity of about 3 million components a year

Rheinmetall has put a new medium-calibre ammunition production line into service at its Albacete site in Spain, with a stated capacity of about three million ammunition components a year. The company announced the commissioning on 16 October, describing the work as part of its “Firepower” programme to expand ammunition output.

The investment is about €20 million, and the workforce at the site is due to rise from roughly 210 to about 300 people, according to Rheinmetall. The opening ceremony was attended by Spain’s Secretary of State for Defence, Amparo Valcarce, Germany’s ambassador to Spain, Heiko Thoms, Albacete mayor Manuel Serrano López and Rheinmetall chief executive Armin Papperger.

What was built

A 5,700 square metre building was modernised and extended for the medium-calibre line, with new building infrastructure, machinery and manufacturing capability. A separate 5,200 square metre hall, which the company says was erected in under a year, expands mortar production. Rheinmetall adds that aircraft maintenance will also be possible in the new hall.

Capacity and products

For medium-calibre ammunition from 20 mm to 35 mm, the company gives a yearly capacity of about 1.2 million projectiles and about 1.8 million cartridge cases. For mortars it cites 40 Dual-Eimos 81 mm mortar systems and more than 650 mortars in 60 mm, 81 mm and 120 mm calibres per year. The components are processed further at other Rheinmetall sites, including Burgos in Spain.

The products named by the company include kinetic energy time fuze munition, armour-piercing projectiles, and AHEAD ammunition for anti-aircraft systems and counter-drone use, as well as rounds for infantry fighting vehicles and anti-aircraft guns. Albacete is to work with Rheinmetall sites in Spain, Germany and Switzerland to supply NATO partners and other allies, and Rheinmetall expects a local supplier network to benefit regional businesses.

Part of a wider expansion

Rheinmetall says its Firepower project aims, by 2030 at the latest, for 1.5 million rounds of 155 mm artillery ammunition, 240,000 rounds of 120 mm anti-tank ammunition and 4 million rounds of medium-calibre ammunition a year. Other projects in the programme include new plants in Unterlüß in Germany and Baisogala in Lithuania, and an expansion at Aschau am Inn in Germany.

Papperger called Albacete “one of our key centres of expertise in the field of ammunition components and weapon systems manufacturing”. Valcarce said that “the best way to preserve peace is to be prepared to defend it”.

For Rheinmetall’s US activity, see American Rheinmetall at AUSA 2026: Lynx XM30, HX Truck, Skyranger 30 on Boxer and four ground robots. The figures in this article come from Rheinmetall’s press release and are company statements.