USA: Within the next 12 weeks, a tank and armoured vehicle manufacturing plant will be established in Ukraine by the German defence contractor Rheinmetall, according to CEO Armin Papperger, who spoke to CNN. In spite of Russia's threat to halt production with missile strikes, the company claims it will be able to produce 400 tanks annually at the facility.

According to CNN's report on Monday, which was based on an interview with Papperger last week, the factory will be situated in western Ukraine and will be jointly run by Rheinmetall and Ukrainian state weapons company Ukroboronprom. 

He stated, "Ukrainians have to help themselves. Over the next 10 or 20 years, it would be impossible if they had to wait for assistance from Americans or Europeans all the time.

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The first vehicles to leave the factory's production lines, according to Papperger, would be Rheinmetall's 'Fuchs' armoured personnel carriers. He added that workers from Ukraine would be trained to construct and maintain these as well as other products made by Rheinmetall, such as the Panzerhaubitze 2000 artillery systems, Leopard 2 tanks, and Marder infantry fighting vehicles.

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Drones and cruise missiles are frequently used by Russia to attack military targets in western Ukraine, and it sees foreign weapon stocks and military equipment as legitimate targets. Dmitry Medvedev, the vice chairman of the Russian Security Council, warned in March that the Rheinmetall factory would not be an exception.

He stated on social media, "If [the] Krauts still continue with it for real, they're very welcome. "Russian pyrotechnics like Kalibrs and other fireworks should be used to celebrate the decision." 

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CNN was told by Papperger that Rheinmetall could safeguard its factory. "There are numerous factories in Ukraine that are currently producing military goods. It's just another one, and we can protect that as well," he said, declining to explain how he planned to do this.

The Ukraine conflict has increased Rheinmetall's profits to record highs; the company earned €6.4 billion ($7 billion) last year, a 27% increase from 2021. German newspaper Die Welt reported earlier this month that Rheinmetall plans to expand its Lower Saxony facility, hire hundreds of new employees, and construct a plant in Ukraine as it works through a €28.2 billion backlog of orders.