"Rheinmetall opens repair center in Ukraine" Topic

…The center, located in western Ukraine, is already working to maintain and repair Marder infantry fighting vehicles, according to a Rheinmetall press release. The company plans more repair centers elsewhere to repair other German weapons, including Leopard 1 and Leopard 2 tanks…

Defense One: link

I wonder how lucrative the pay is.

I wonder if Russia will destroy it?

Yes, I wonder at the logic of building repair centers where Russia could strike them.

I believe Rheinmetall installed Skyranger 30 air defense turrets around the facility. Supposedly can handle any particular air threat. Russia would need to overwhelm the turrets to be successful. Certainly doable but is it a strategic priority?

Depends on how badly they want to make the point.

They actually plan to open 4 factories, the current one is for repair of foreign vehicles and later production of new armored vehicles. There will then be one for gunpowder, artillery shells and AA systems.

As Rheinmetall produce the AA systems to defend the facility, they seem to be confident in their own product. I wouldn't mind betting that they are within a patriot zone of coverage as well. It is also in the West of the country which makes it a more difficult target. It is going to take a lot of resources to hit it, and I expect that production well be well spread out and designed to prevent catastrophic destruction by a single hit.

The investment is Euro 200 million. For a company with Euro 6.4 Billion revenue, it is not a big risk. There is probably a lot of financial upside as well.

The military that has superior maintenance and resupply is very critical in modern mobile warfare. As we saw in the beginning of the war, Russia's Log capabilities were marginal at best. And I don't think they have improved much. Like the rest of the Russian Military.

But regardless any factories within range of Russian missiles etc. will have to have a lot of ADA/AAA provided to protect them. But some may still get thru …

Absolutely it's about logistics. Is one factory repairing German vehicles a priority? I'd hit the factories and workshops that manufacture or repair old Soviet designs. Way more critical to the Ukrainian war effort.

In the US Army when I was on active duty, '79-'90. We had many units whose personnels' jobs were maintenance and supply. That includes recovery and repair. E.g. if an MBT can't shot, move or communicate … it is a big heavy paperweight.

Rheinmetal is probably taking a long term view it will get the future contracts from Ukraine if they win and dump their Russian garbage. They will have factories already in Ukraine showing a level of commitment Ukraine will embrace.

One man's merchant of death is a critical link in another man's supply chain.

Nine pound round does it again! Bravo!