© Rheinmetall press

Rheinmetall Defense, part of the Rheinmetall Group and one of Europe’s largest defense systems manufacturers, is entering the fight against COVID-19. 

According to the press release issued by Rheinmetall, thanks to its global production and sales networks especially in China, it will provide the German Federal Authorities with around 6,000,000 high-quality Chinese FFP2 respiratory protection masks within days, with the option to add a supply of 5,000,000 masks. 

At the beginning of March, the Germany’s Federal Ministry of Health turned to the Ministry of Defense for help in combating the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.  Together with procurement agencies of the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Interior Ministry, the Federal Office for Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-

service Support (BAAINBw) is now working to source the urgently required equipment for maintaining the healthcare system and protecting the population..

Rheinmetall’s Group chairman, Armin Papperger, said: “In taking this step, we’re not just trying to do whatever we can to halt the spread of the coronavirus in Germany. We specifically want to help the people who are helping us: doctors, emergency medical technicians, nurses, care providers – in short, the folks whose help we all depend on. And that goes for the civil and medical sphere alike.” 

According to the press release, these masks provide protection from infection by the COVID-19 virus and other pathogens.  They have become very hard to find

in the global marketplace.  Rheinmetall sees its success in securing large numbers of these masks as a first step in providing fast, unbureaucratic assistance to healthcare providers and medical facilities.

In addition, it is reported that Rheinmetall has identified other areas where it can provide quick support. For example, a number of the Group’s business units are able to produce disinfectant in their excellent laboratories. In South Africa, a plant operated by its subsidiary Rheinmetall Denel Munition near Cape Town is already producing around a thousand litres of disinfectant a day, something urgently required by the country’s healthcare sector.

Furthermore, along with other forms of support, Rheinmetall is examining ways of providing protective clothing and more masks on a large scale, as well as assembling medical equipment such as ventilators.