Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall will manufacture ATACMS missiles in Europe
The American company Lockheed Martin and the German defense conglomerate Rheinmetall have agreed to establish joint production of ATACMS tactical missiles in Europe. The parties signed a memorandum of understanding during the Defense Industry Forum, which took place as part of the NATO summit.
According to a statement from Lockheed Martin, the agreement—which is supported by the U.S. and German governments—will be a step toward establishing a joint venture. It is set to become Europe’s first center for the production, integration, and supply of ATACMS missiles to NATO countries and other European allies.
Lockheed Martin International President Jay Pitman called the agreement an important milestone for European security and defense cooperation. He said that combining American technology with Rheinmetall’s manufacturing capabilities will allow for faster delivery of combat-proven weapons to allies.
Dennis Hage, Lockheed Martin’s Executive Director for Europe, noted that launching ATACMS production in Germany will send a strong signal to the European defense industry and strengthen NATO’s long-term resilience.
For his part, Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger announced that the missiles are planned to be manufactured at the company’s facility in Unterluss.
“Our goal is to strengthen the defense capabilities of Germany and Europe. Together with our friends at Lockheed Martin, we are now establishing an industrial base in Germany for modern defense systems that are in high demand among European armed forces. By establishing ATACMS production at the Rheinmetall facility in Unterluss, we are creating new opportunities for Germany and Europe, ensuring supplies for our customers, and strengthening our autonomy in defense policy,” said Papperger.
ATACMS are high-precision, long-range tactical ballistic missiles that have already proven their effectiveness in modern combat conditions. Due to high global demand, Lockheed Martin will continue producing these missiles at its plant in the U.S. state of Arkansas until the transition period ends and the new facility in Europe begins operations.
This is stated in the company’s press release dated July 7, 2026.
As a reminder, NATO member countries in Europe are deepening their cooperation with the United States in the field of weapons production and launching new multinational coalitions for the joint procurement of critically important weapons. These new initiatives are intended to strengthen the Alliance’s defense capabilities and provide Ukraine with the necessary resources.
Trump arrived in Ankara to attend the NATO summit and hold talks with Erdogan.
The U.S. and its NATO allies plan to establish a Patriot missile maintenance center in Europe.
