German defence manufacturer Rheinmetall has announced a €20 million expansion of its Albacete ammunition facility in Spain, aimed at increasing output of medium-calibre ammunition components and mortar systems. The new production line is expected to manufacture approximately 1.2 million projectiles and 1.8 million cartridge cases each year. The project will also raise employment at the site from around 210 to 300 people. Output will feed into Rheinmetall’s wider manufacturing network, including the company’s Burgos plant, supporting ammunition production for armoured fighting vehicles, anti-aircraft weapons and counter-drone applications. Products include armour-piercing rounds and AHEAD ammunition, which uses programmable airburst effects against airborne targets. Rheinmetall also plans to expand mortar manufacturing in Albacete, targeting annual capacity of 40 Dual-Eimos 81mm systems and more than 650 mortars in three calibres. The investment supports the company’s Firepower initiative, which aims to achieve annual capacity of 1.5 million 155mm artillery rounds, 240,000 120mm tank rounds and four million medium-calibre rounds by 2030. Additional investments include new ammunition plants in Germany and Lithuania.
