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The Spanish ammunition manufacturer Expal Systems is now part of Rheinmetall. After all official approvals have been obtained, the acquisition of all shares in Expal Systems SAU, Madrid, announced in November 2022, has been completed, as Rheinmetall announced. The new company is called Rheinmetall Expal Munitions. All locations (Madrid, Trubia, Burgos, Navalmoral, El Gordo, Albacete and Murcia in Spain as well as Texarkana, Texas/USA) are to be retained and further growth is expected. On August 1, the operational activities were taken under the management of Rheinmetall. The company spent around 1.2 billion euros on the transaction.

Expal factory building in Albacete/Spain (Photo: Public Domain JPOK)

According to the company, the Düsseldorf-based technology group is thus significantly expanding its position as an important supplier to the NATO armed forces and is consequently increasing its own production capacities, particularly in the area of ​​artillery, mortar and medium-caliber ammunition. With the acquisition in Spain, Rheinmetall aims to secure its core business in the field of weapons, ammunition and propulsion in the long term. Among other things, Rheinmetall Expal Systems develops and manufactures artillery ammunition, mortar shells, medium-caliber ammunition, as well as detonators and rocket propulsion systems. With many types of ammunition, Expal produces the "full shot" from the propellant to the fuse.

Artillery ammunition in 120mm and 105mm calibers is part of the Rheinmetall Expal Munitions product range (Photo: Expal Systems)

Artilleriemunition erlebt derzeit durch den Krieg in der Ukraine einen kräftige Nachfragesteigerung. Neben dem hohen Verbrauch durch die ukrainischen Streitkräfte wächst auch die Erkenntnis, dass die in der Vergangenheit vernachlässigten Vorräte in den NATO-Staaten wieder aufgefüllt werden müssen. Alle Munitionshersteller haben die Auftragsbücher voll.

In view of the great future demand in many countries, Rheinmetall says it is in the best possible position with the acquisition, including for complex new tenders for the procurement of ammunition. Rheinmetall Expal Munitions will continue to make its products, technologies and industrial capabilities available to the Spanish armed forces in particular as an important partner.

gwh / editors