Dutch Drone Maker Destinus and Germany's Rheinmetall to Build Missiles Together
The Hengelo-based defence company is joining forces with one of Europe's largest arms manufacturers, forming a joint venture to mass-produce cruise missiles and ballistic rockets for Europe and NATO allies.
Dutch-Swiss defence company Destinus, based in Hengelo, and German defence giant Rheinmetall have announced a joint venture to produce advanced missile systems for Europe and its NATO allies. The partnership, named Rheinmetall Destinus Strike Systems, was announced on Monday and is expected to become operational in the second half of this year.
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What each partner brings
Destinus currently produces mainly long-range drones, which are already being used by Ukraine against Russia. Rheinmetall, one of the largest defence manufacturers in Europe, has until now specialised primarily in more conventional weaponry. Under the partnership, Rheinmetall contributes its manufacturing facilities and expertise in permits, requirements and quality oversight, while Destinus brings its technology and designs.
Rheinmetall will hold a 51 percent stake in the joint venture, with Destinus retaining the remaining 49 percent. The two companies will focus on cruise missiles and ballistic rocket artillery, targeting the European market as well as a number of NATO countries outside Europe. They will be partners across all aspects of production: manufacturing, assembly and testing.
Why now
Destinus founder and CEO Mikhail Kokorich said: "Europe is entering a new phase when it comes to scaling missile production. Modern conflicts are characterised by volume and cost-effectiveness. Missile systems have evolved from limited-production goods to industrially manufactured products."
Kokorich pointed to wars in Ukraine and the Middle East as evidence that demand for missiles is rising sharply, with orders running into the thousands and potentially tens of thousands of systems per year in future.
Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger said: "We need to expand the industrial base for modern defence systems in Europe. This is how we lay the foundations for scalable missiles tailored to the current requirements of European armed forces and allies."
Destinus's background
Destinus was founded in Switzerland and took over the key assets and technology of drone maker Aerialtronics, based in Valkenburg in Limburg, in 2025 following that company's bankruptcy. The acquisition included Aerialtronics' intellectual property and specialist team. Since then, Destinus operates as a Swiss-Dutch company, with an important presence in Hengelo.
