German arms manufacturer to start producing Panzerfaust 3 in Ukraine

Ukrainian military with a Panzerfaust grenade launcher (photo: facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua)

The German arms manufacturer Dynamit Nobel Defense (DND), which recently signed an agreement with the State Concern UkrOboronProm, is exploring the possibility of producing Panzerfaust 3 rocket launchers in Ukraine, according to the Hartpunkt.

A representative of DND, in a conversation with journalists, stated that the first step would be to determine whether joint production of such rocket launchers in Ukraine is possible.

“For example, the final assembly of the Panzerfaust 3 could be carried out by Ukrainian companies. In the second stage, licensed production in Ukraine is also possible,” the Hartpunkt says.

It should be noted that UkrOboronProm announced the signing of a memorandum with DND on February 17. According to the CEO of Ukroboronprom, Herman Smetanin, such a partnership is important for strengthening defense capabilities important for Ukraine’s Victory, and for building the Arsenal of the free world.

What is known about Dynamit Nobel Defence

This German company, based in Burbach in North Rhine-Westphalia (FRG), is considered one of the leaders in the global arms community.

It is a subsidiary of the Israeli company Rafael.

The use of Panzerfaust 3 in the war in Ukraine

Such rocket launchers are used by Ukrainian troops in the theater of operations to repel Russian occupiers. In particular, the latest version of the system, supplied from the stocks of the Bundeswehr, has been used against Russian tanks and armored vehicles since the early months of the large-scale war.

Characteristics

The Panzerfaust 3-IT weighs approximately 15 kilograms and is capable of hitting modern main battle tanks of the Russian aggressors, even with reactive armor, at a distance of about 400 meters.

It should be added that as part of Germany’s military support, DND was tasked with supplying several thousand bazookas to Ukraine.

Possibility of Panzerfaust 3 production in Ukraine

It is noted that production in Ukraine could ease the limited production capacity in Burbach in favor of other DND products.

The company states that the intention is to take over the strong points of the combat part of the Panzerfaust 3-IT in the basic version and combine them with the ergonomics and operational concept of the RGW series. Overall, the new warhead is intended to be shorter and have an ergonomically optimized spike extractor with a pre-empty charge, which can increase penetration compared to the DM72A1 to 1000 mm of armor steel, including reactive protection.

It should be noted that at the end of December 2023, it became known that the city council of the German town of Troisdorf blocked plans for a major arms company, Diehl Defence, to expand local production. The products were intended for Ukraine.