On Russia’s hit list but unshaken: Rheinmetall CEO leads Europe’s defence surge

For a man whose name we are told was on a Russian hit list, Armin Papperger seems very relaxed.

The 62-year-old is the chief executive of Germany's largest weapons manufacturer, Rheinmetall. In January, a Nato official confirmed that a plot to murder Armin Papperger was foiled by US and German intelligence.

The plot was one of a series of Russian plans to assassinate defence industry executives across Europe and part of wider sabotage being carried out on member states, according to NATO deputy assistant secretary-general for innovation, hybrid, and cyber, James Appathurai. While the Kremlin denies the allegations, it's news that would rattle most people, but Papperger is calm.

"It's better not to be on a hit list, but you see the guys here around me; this is my personal protection, so I feel very good," he replies when I ask if his life has become more dangerous since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. "The guys" he's referring to are a team of heavy-set men in slick black uniforms.

They're the kind of security staff you see flanking world leaders and, if German media is correct, the Rheinmetall CEO has similar protection to the German Chancellor. While Mr Papperger won't be drawn on whether his life has become more dangerous, he can't deny it's become busier.

We are meeting at the opening of Rheinmetall's new ammunition factory in Unterluß, Germany. The sprawling plant is the largest in Europe and aims to produce 350,000 rounds a year by 2027.

The 155mm shells will initially be used to replenish the German military and boost Ukraine's stock. As well as the German ammunition plant, Europe's renewed focus on defence means Rheinmetall is rapidly expanding, with a gunpowder factory in Romania, two factories in Bulgaria and a gun barrel facility in the UK just some of its new ventures.

The projects, they say, are a direct reaction to Russian aggression and the new demand from Germany and its European allies to rearm in response. "How big is that challenge to rearm?" I ask.

"At the moment, the western world has a capacity of about two million rounds of artillery which is not enough. We need more, and 50% of those shells will be produced at Rheinmetall," Mr Papperger says.

Read more from Sky News:Tony Blair meets Donald Trump to discuss GazaPutin, Xi, and Kim set to unite at major military parade"How long will 2 million rounds last?" I ask? "President Zelenskyy told me I need two-and-a-half million if we have a ceasefire and four-and-a-half million if we have a war," he replies. By Papperger's assessment, it will take 10 years to fully restock but he's confident Europe could defend itself if it was attacked before this.

"It's not that we are not able to fight, we are able to," he says. For years, defence was a dirty word for many in Germany due to its history in the Second World War, but the war in Ukraine has changed the government's thinking.

The very real possibility that Russia could strike a NATO country in the next five years means the Germans, like many of their neighbours, are working to turbo-charge their military, and defence giants like Rheinmetall are a key part of those plans..