SAPA, Navantia, Rheinmetall Expal Munitions S.A.U., and Rheinmetall Air Defence sign a memorandum of understanding for joint defense capabilities.

Madrid, May 13, 2025

SAPA, Navantia, Rheinmetall Expal Munitions, and Rheinmetall Air Defense signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the FEINDEF trade fair in Madrid. The objective is to combine their capabilities and collaborate in the development of modern technologies to strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy in the defense sector.

This agreement marks a decisive step toward deeper industrial cooperation, particularly in the air defense sector. The cooperation will address current geopolitical challenges, as well as the need for joint investment, technological collaboration, and the enhancement of European defense capabilities. «Today we are taking an important step toward strengthening European air defense capabilities. We are aware of the responsibility and do so with the ambition and conviction that only together can we meet current and future challenges,» said Roman Köhne, Head of the Armaments and Munitions Division, and Oliver Dürr, Head of the Electronic Solutions Division at Rheinmetall.

About SAPA:

With over 150 years of history in the defense sector, SAPA Placencia is a long-established Spanish company headquartered in Placencia. Founded in the 19th century, SAPA initially specialized in the manufacture of weapons and artillery components. With technological change and the professionalization of modern armed forces, SAPA increasingly focused its attention on propulsion technology, power supply systems, and systems integration for military platforms. SAPA has maintained industrial collaborations with international defense companies for decades, including Rheinmetall Air Defence (formerly Oerlikon Contraves). In the 1990s, SAPA cooperated with the Swiss company on a technology transfer, primarily for the modernization of GDF 001/005 air defense systems.

About NAVANTIA:

Navantia is a Spanish state-owned company primarily engaged in military shipbuilding, the development of combat systems, and the maintenance and modernization of warships. The company has extensive experience in the development and execution of naval projects such as frigates, submarines, and weapons systems. Navantia has maintained industrial cooperation agreements with Rheinmetall Air Defence for more than 40 years. Within the framework of this collaboration, Navantia has manufactured and maintained various naval and land artillery systems developed by Rheinmetall in Spain, such as automatic cannons and fire control systems. The two companies maintain close technical and industrial collaboration, particularly in the integration and maintenance of air defense and artillery systems on naval and land platforms.

About Rheinmetall Expal Munitions:

Rheinmetall Expal Munitions, S.A.U., headquartered in Madrid, is a world-renowned ammunition manufacturer specializing in, among other products, artillery ammunition, mortar shells, medium-caliber ammunition, fuzes, and rocket propulsion systems. Rheinmetall Expal Munitions produces complete charges for numerous types of ammunition, from propellant charges to fuzes. The company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Rheinmetall since August 1, 2023, has a state-of-the-art production network with seven operating plants in Spain and the U.S., and exports to more than 60 countries.

About Rheinmetall Air Defence:

Rheinmetall Air Defence AG, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of complex weapon systems for air defense. The company is a market leader in gun and missile defense systems and the only comprehensive supplier of fire control systems, protected integrated missile launchers, and Ahead munitions. Air surveillance systems and radar technology with search and detection radars complete its product portfolio.