Rheinmetall and Destinus have agreed to form a joint venture, Rheinmetall Destinus Strike Systems, which is expected to become operational in the second half of 2026.
According to the website Defence Blog, the company will focus on the production of advanced cruise missiles and ballistic rocket artillery and will be based in Unterlüß, Lower Saxony, Germany.
The goal is to manufacture and deliver missile systems to European and NATO-aligned customers. Rheinmetall, headquartered in Düsseldorf, will hold a 51% stake in the new entity, while Destinus, based in the Netherlands, will retain the remaining 49%.
Rheinmetall will bring industrial scale and a track record of managing large-scale defense programs within Germany’s defense manufacturing base, while Destinus will contribute system architecture, product design, and an already ongoing serial production program.
“We must expand the industrial base for modern defense systems in Europe. This joint venture reflects that need. We are combining Rheinmetall‘s production capabilities and large-scale program management expertise with Destinus‘ specific technology and system design,” said Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall.
“By doing so, we are laying the foundation for scalable and operational missiles tailored to the current requirements of European and allied armed forces,” he added, a view echoed by Mikhail Kokorich, CEO and co-founder of Destinus.
“Europe is entering a new phase of missile production expansion. Modern conflict is defined by volume and cost-effectiveness. Missile systems are evolving from limited-production assets into industrial products. The real constraint in Europe today is not demand, but industrial capacity,” said Kokorich.
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