Transatlantic cooperation in the field of defense is working well. After the automotive pieces, the shells, the satellites, the German giant Rheinmetall continues to diversify their activities: he signed an agreement with the new Andundil new company to jointly develop combat and missile drones. Which causes some cold sweats on the side of European industrialists.
This “strategic association” provides the development of a European version of the Fury Combat drone, of which Andundil also presented a model in Bourget Show. This aircraft is initially developed for the United States Air Force, under the acronym YFQ-44a, as a drone that accompanies the F-35 combat plane and future F-47. You should make your first test flights soon.
The other area led by this agreement, just as strategic, is the cruise missile. According to the terms of the agreement, Rheinmetall will be able to produce the barracuda, which was revealed in September 2024 by Anduril. The missile is presented as a low -cost product capable of producing in large quantities, it is offered in three different versions, from 160 to 900 kilometers of reach.
Multiple ambitions
The two giants do not intend to stop there. They also announce that they want to “explore opportunities for rocket engines for Europe.”
The signature of this association marks a turning point in the panorama of the European Defense Industry. By showing ambitions to co -produce equipment, on European, Andundil and Rheinmetalll soil they seek to place their pawns in front of the sector giants such as Airbus, MBDA or BAE.
Rheinmetall continues its establishment strategy in the defense sector and, therefore, is based on industrial associations to develop and compete with other European actors.
A few weeks before, the German conglomerate also signed an agreement with the American giant Lockheed Martin to open a production plant for rockets and missiles in Germany. A method that pays and must contribute to the good financial health of the group, whose sales increased by 36% in 2024.
Source: BFM TV
