Drone facility expansion in Braunschweig by Rheinmetall announced - Rheinmetall gains a new drone facility in Braunschweig through acquisition.
Rheinmetall, a leading defense conglomerate based in Düsseldorf, has expanded its drone activities in Braunschweig within the German defense industry. The company has taken over employees and facilities of insolvent Leichtwerk AG, a company located at the Forschungsflughafen (research airport) in Braunschweig.
This move reflects Rheinmetall’s broader efforts to strengthen and develop its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capabilities, as Germany plans to acquire around 400 unmanned vehicles in cooperation with major partners like Boeing, Lockheed, and Anduril.
The acquisition of Leichtwerk AG is part of Rheinmetall’s expansion strategy and is likely to involve integrating and enhancing drone technology research and production capacity at the Braunschweig site to meet German defense requirements. The drone site in Braunschweig is thus becoming a significant hub for Rheinmetall’s drone development within Germany’s strategic defense initiatives.
Leichtwerk AG, founded in 1996, was previously specialized in civilian projects. However, with the acquisition, the company will now focus on military projects and products at the acquired site. Around 40 employees have switched to Rheinmetall from Leichtwerk AG, bringing long-standing experience and valuable know-how to the defense conglomerate.
The new site acquired by Rheinmetall will be involved in the development and testing of military drones. The site, located near Braunschweig-Wolfsburg airport, is set to be expanded. It is worth noting that Rheinmetall already operates a large plant in Unterlüß in the South Heath, which is the largest production site of the defense conglomerate. In addition to ammunition, military vehicles such as the Puma infantry fighting vehicle are produced at the Unterlüß plant.
The spokesperson for Rheinmetall confirmed the takeover to the German Press Agency. The acquisition does not involve a legal acquisition of Leichtwerk AG. Instead, it appears to be a strategic partnership aimed at bolstering Rheinmetall's position in the growing market for military drones.
[1] German Press Agency, "Rheinmetall expands drone activities in Braunschweig," [date], URL [2] Braunschweiger Zeitung, "Rheinmetall takes over Leichtwerk AG in Braunschweig," [date], URL
The acquisition of Leichtwerk AG by Rheinmetall is expected to shift the focus of the company towards military projects, specifically involving vocational training and development in the production of military drones at the Braunschweig site. This strategic partnership may also contribute to Rheinmetall's financial growth in the aerospace and defense industry.
With the integration of Leichtwerk AG's long-standing experience and knowledge into its operations, Rheinmetall aims to enhance its drone technology research and production capacity, aligning with German defense requirements and strengthening its position in the growing market for unmanned aerial vehicles.
