30.07.2024, Budapest.
Hungarian Defense Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky and Armin Papperger, CEO of the Rheinmetall arms manufacturer, inaugurated the first production line of a new ammunition factory in Varpalota, 75 kilometers southwest of Budapest, the Hartpunkt news platform reported on July 30.
According to the Hungarian Defense Ministry’s press release, as of July 29, the factory will soon begin producing 30×173 mm caliber ammunition. Construction of the plant began in December 2022.
The plant, which consists of several segments, was constructed by the Hungarian company N7 Holding. The Hungarian state invested almost 60 million euros in the facility.
Test operation of the 30×173 mm caliber ammunition production line, the construction of which has been completed in the first phase, begins soon. According to Szalay-Bobrovniczky, 50 employees will work on the line.
The Hungarian Defense Minister also stressed the importance of producing medium-caliber cartridges for the supply of the Hungarian armed forces. In the next phase of the so-called Várpalota 2.0 project, the plant will be expanded to produce 120mm ammunition for main battle tanks and 155mm artillery ammunition.
The second part of the plant is scheduled for completion in 2025, and production is scheduled to begin in early 2026. The 120-hectare ammunition production facility will employ 200 people.
It is reported that an explosives plant is being built in Hungary on the same site in parallel. The capacity of this project, which is also operated by a joint venture between Rheinmetall and N7, is expected to meet domestic demand, as well as exports during the final expansion phase.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
