Rheinmetall accelerates combat drone production – capacities significantly expanded

A few months ago, Rheinmetall completed a modern production facility for assembly, testing and warhead production and integration of Loitering Munitions (LM). In the meantime, the series production is at full speed. The facility is operated by the Italian subsidiary RWM Italia at its sites in Musei and Domusnovas in Sardinia. Rheinmetall is cooperating with the manufacturer UVision Air Ltd on this project.

Part of the production line is located at the Rheinmetall plant in Musei, where the inert and electronic components are assembled and tested. The warheads are manufactured and integrated into the munitions at the Rheinmetall plant in Domusnovas.

The current range of products includes:

• HERO 30 (small, portable LM for infantry usage)
• HERO120 (Medium-sized LM for precision strikes against armoured vehicles and immovable installations)
• HERO400 (Medium/long-range LM for precision strikes against fortified positions)

The current order backlog totals more than €200 million for various types of HERO LM’s to be delivered to eight different NATO and non-NATO countries in Europe.

Furthermore, Rheinmetall also has own drones and Loitering Munitions in its portfolio. These include the LUNA NG reconnaissance drone. With its uncrewed aerial systems, which are manufactured in Penzberg, among other places, Rheinmetall generated sales of around €120 million in 2024. Rheinmetall also cooperates with other well-known companies in this business area, such as Lockheed Martin and Anduril.

In addition, drone defence is another area in which Rheinmetall is a leader. Its portfolio covers the entire sensor-to-effector chain, from detection and identification to countermeasures using jammers, cannon-based air defence systems (e.g. “Skyranger”) or high-energy lasers.