Destinus, Rheinmetall to create joint missile venture

Destinus, a Dutch defence manufacturer, will establish a new joint venture with Germany’s Rheinmetall to scale missile system production, the company announced on 13 April. 

Named Rheinmetall Destinus Strike Systems, the venture is intended to manufacture advanced cruise missiles and ballistic rocket artillery.  

It will leverage Rheinmetall’s production capacities, industrial facilities, and ability to manage large-scale programmes alongside Destinus’ specific technology and scalable design. 

Destinus has rapidly progressed since it was formally established in 2021, developing a range of products including cruise missile systems and loitering munitions. 

As of December, the company raised a total of EUR400 million in capital funding. It has also made acquisitions to support its growth, buying Dutch company Aerialtronics for its expertise in UAV technology in March last year and Swiss-based Daedalean, a provider of AI flight systems, in August. 

Building on this foundation, Rheinmetall says that the new venture will be established in Lower Saxony, Germany, with the company owning a 51% stake and Destinus owning the remaining 49%. 

It will launch in the second half of 2026, contingent on regulatory approval.