Rheinmetall to launch production of cruise missiles in Europe
The German defense contractor Rheinmetall is launching a joint cruise missile production venture with Destinus. The new project is intended to strengthen Europe’s defense capabilities amid shifts in U.S. policy regarding NATO and EU security.
This was reported by the Financial Times.
The joint venture has been named Rheinmetall Destinus Strike Systems. Production is expected to begin in late 2026 or early 2027.
The companies plan to focus on the production of cruise missiles and ballistic artillery. One of the key developments will be the Ruta Block 2 missile, capable of striking targets at a range of over 700 kilometers.
Although this is less than the range of American Tomahawks, Europe considers it critically important to establish its own production of long-range weapons. According to estimates by European military officials, Russia produces about 1,100 cruise missiles annually, while EU countries currently produce approximately 300.
The ramp-up of European defense production comes amid uncertainty regarding future U.S. support for Europe and statements by President Donald Trump about the need for allies to strengthen their own defenses.
The war in the Middle East and the conflict surrounding Iran have also demonstrated that U.S. weapons stockpiles are not unlimited.
For Rheinmetall, this will mark its first major entry into the cruise missile market, which was previously dominated by the European defense group MBDA.
Destinus was founded in 2021. Its founder is physicist and entrepreneur Mykhailo Kokorich, who previously worked in Russia and later emigrated to the U.S., where he founded several space companies.
In 2023, former Ukrainian Finance Minister Oleksandr Danylyuk joined Destinus’s leadership as senior vice president for defense.
The company is already collaborating with Ukraine and supplying drones and cruise missiles to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Because of this, according to media reports, the Russian Ministry of Defense has added Destinus to its list of potential targets.
It is also known that some of the components for the drones are manufactured outside of Switzerland, while final assembly takes place in Ukraine.
German defense giant Rheinmetall, in partnership with global shipping leader MSC, intends to acquire the Mangalia shipyard in Romania.
In addition, the German defense conglomerate Rheinmetall, together with the telecommunications company Deutsche Telekom, is launching a joint project to develop systems to protect against potential drone attacks and cyber threats.
