Europe’s weapons factories are expanding at three times the rate of peacetime, stretching over 7mn sq meters of new industrial development, analysis of radar satellite data shows, reports the Financial Times (FT).

Accordingly, areas marked by changes jumped from 790,000 sq meters in 2020-21 to 2.8mn sq meters in 2024-25, the analysis showed.

Among the sites with the biggest expansion was a joint project between German defense giant Rheinmetall and Hungarian state defense company N7 Holding, which has built a vast production site for ammunition and explosives in Varpalota in western Hungary.

The aforesaid FT analysis of radar satellite data covered 150 facilities across 37 companies.

European countries are being compelled to strengthen their defenses amid a desire to provide military assistance to Ukraine, as well as a possible reduction in the US role in Europe's defense, the FT notes.