Rheinmetall Germany

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ABOUT RHEİNMETALL


Rheinmetall was founded in 1889 as "Rheinische Metallwaaren- und Maschinenbaufabrik Aktiengesellschaft". Today, Rheinmetall is a leading, globally active, integrated technology group that develops and sells components, systems and services for the security and civil industries.

As a renowned development partner and direct supplier to the global automotive industry and a leading international systems provider for security technology, Rheinmetall draws on its high level of expertise in its basic technologies to address long-term megatrends, identify viable new markets with high growth potential and develop innovative solutions for a safe and liveable future. The focus on sustainability is an integral part of Rheinmetall's strategy.

With about 28,000 employees at 132 locations and production sites worldwide, Rheinmetall generated sales of €6.4 billion in 2022.


 

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Major Order : Bundeswehr order 120mm tank ammunition from Rheinmetall - volume of existing framework agreement expanded to €4 billion


The German Bundeswehr has expanded to €4 billion an existing framework agreement with Rheinmetall for the supply of tank ammunition. The order underscores Rheinmetall's role as a major supplier of 120mm tank ammunition to the German armed forces. It also reflects the German military’s commitment to rebuilding its capabilities and increasing its ammunition stocks due to the new security situation. The framework agreement also encompasses a significant amount of tank ammunition for the Ukrainian armed forces.


Based on the framework agreement just signed, the Bundeswehr could procure several hundred thousand rounds of 120mm x 570 cal. service and practice ammunition, the type fired for example by the Leopard 2 main battle tank. Worth around €309 million, a first call-off of ammunition came immediately after the contract was signed.


The scope of delivery includes multipurpose tank ammunition with a non-programmable fuse as well as another variant that can be programmed for three different ignition modes: detonation on impact with and without time delay, and a timed airburst function. The order also encompasses various types of practice ammunition featuring reduced range and lower cost, but which otherwise display comparable ballistic characteristics.


For many Leopard 2 user nations, Rheinmetall is the most important supplier of ammunition for the tank’s 120mm smoothbore main armament. The armed forces of Germany and several partner nations have entered framework contracts with Rheinmetall to secure a steady long-term supply of ammunition, which in turn enables better planning of the production process and optimum utilization of existing capacity. Owing to ongoing production of various types of ammunition during the lifetime of the contract and the resulting rapid availability, the framework contract offers clear logistical advantages. For Rheinmetall, this contractual arrangement assures solid utilization of tank ammunition capacity for years to come.


 

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Bundeswehr contracts with Rheinmetall for several hundred thousand artilerry shels ; order worth eround €1.3 billion



--> Framework contracts signed for 155mm artillery ammunition

--> Several hundred thousand shells, fuses and propelling charges, potentially worth around €1.3 billion
(incl. VAT)

--> First call-off of shells worth around €127 million (incl. VAT); delivery to take place shortly

--> Order underscores the customer’s high trust in Rheinmetall’s world-leading expertise in ammunition




The need to replenish stores of ammunition caused by the war in Ukraine is resulting in major artillery ammunition contracts for Rheinmetall.


The German Bundeswehr has just issued a large-volume order for service and practice artillery ammunition worth around €1.3 billion, including value added tax. Two contracts to this effect have now been signed at the Federal Office for Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) in Koblenz.


Rheinmetall has been awarded a new framework contract for the supply of 155mm artillery ammunition, while an existing framework contract has been expanded. In all, the scope of delivery encompasses several hundred thousand shells of various types, including fuses and propelling charges. Set to run until 2029, the new framework contract represents potential order volume of around €1.2 billion, including VAT.


Furthermore, the Bundeswehr has expanded an existing framework agreement for DM121 ammunition. In addition to the framework contract cited above, this represents order volume of around €137 million, once again including VAT. The volume of the existing framework contract thus increases from €109 million to a total of €246 million, including VAT.


Featuring insensitive characteristics, the DM121 high-explosive shell is used for training and exercise purposes.


The first call-offs for service and practice ammunition from the framework contract cited above came as soon as the contract was signed. Delivery of shells worth €127 million (including VAT) is due take place shortly.


Ever since its foundation over 125 years ago, Rheinmetall has been a reliable partner of the artillery corps. Even today, the pressing and drawing process invented by company founder Heinrich Ehrhardt is used for producing modern artillery barrels. Rheinmetall’s family of artillery ammunition includes, among other ordnance, the high explosive DM121, the DM125 smoke/obscurant shell, the DM121 SMArt search-fused round (jointly developed with Diehl Defence), as well as the RH68 practice version and the range-optimized RH1901 and RH1902 smoke/obscurant shells. The Group’s product portfolio also encompasses the versatile Assegai family of 155mm artillery ammunition made by Rheinmetall Denel of South Africa. It includes insensitive munitions (IM), conventional high explosive (HE) rounds, as well as smoke/obscurant, illumination, infrared illumination, and other shells. With its boat tail (BT) and base bleed (BB) configurations, the Assegai family displays a ballistic equilibrium, ensuring that the entire ammunition spectrum can be used at its maximum effective range of approximately 40 kilometres. Under the framework contract, the Bundeswehr will be introducing the tried-and-tested Assegai ammunition family.


The latest orders underscore once again Rheinmetall’s technological lead as a developer and producer of ammunition in Europe. Furthermore, the framework contracts will help to assure a secure supply of ammunition to the armed forces of Germany and other NATO nations, enabling better planning of production processes and optimum utilization of capacity. Moreover, thanks to assured long-term production of various types of ammunition during the lifetime of the contract, resulting in availability at short notice, the framework contract also offers logistical advantages to other 155mm artillery users. For Rheinmetall, the framework agreement means a basic level of capacity utilization at its ammunition production plants for years to come.


 

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Hungary awards Rheinmetall and UVision a major contract for the Hero loitering munitions-order volume in the three- digit million- euro range



--> Rheinmetall and UVision to supply Hero loitering ammunition to Hungary

--> Order worth a figure in the low three-digit million-euro range

--> Delivery starting 2024, to be complete in 2025

-->
Highly effective against numerous target types, including infantry, light vehicles on the move, enemy field fortifications and air defence systems



Rheinmetall AG of Düsseldorf has secured an important order from Hungary for Hero Loitering Munitions. Contracts to this effect have now been signed. The munitions are worth a figure in the low three-digit million-euro range. Delivery will begin in 2024 and is scheduled to end in 2025.


Hero Loitering Munitions are a family of operationally proven, widely used effectors which Rheinmetall fabricates and markets in Europe under a cooperation agreement with UVision Air Ltd. of Israel. In October 2021 Rheinmetall and UVision embarked on a strategic partnership aimed at addressing sharply increased demand for remotely controlled precision munitions.


Hero precision munitions provide modern armed forces on today’s battlefields with the ultimate in operational flexibility. The weapon systems possess a unique, autonomous target engagement capability, including reconnaissance, monitoring and recognition. It locates, tracks and engages emerging enemy targets with low signatures beyond the line of sight.


Hero Loitering Munition systems circle over the target zone, locating and tracking the enemy and analysing possible targets. They help to select high-value targets as well as suitable timing, direction and angle of attack before carrying out a high-precision strike. Hero Loitering Munition systems feature a high degree of commonality and can therefore be operated from the same operating and datalink terminal on the ground.


All Hero systems are designed to operate in complex battlefield conditions, including in environments without GPS reception or jammed radio connections. Modern armed forces around the world, among them those of major NATO members, use Hero Loitering Munitions, which have proven highly effective in combat operations.


The Hero system has demonstrated its effectiveness against a multitude of different targets, including infantry, light vehicles on the move, tanks, enemy field fortifications, air defence systems and critical infrastructure. It offers major advantages in modern warfare scenarios. Thanks to their rapid deployability and independent target acquisition and engagement capabilities, Hero Loitering Munitions can operate at all echelons, from supreme headquarters to the individual soldier on the ground, and lend themselves to strategic and tactical missions alike.


 

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Rheinmetall completes acquisition of Spanish defence contractor Expal Systems




--> Rheinmetall completes planned takeover of Expal Systems S.A.U.

--> Purchase price about €1.2 billion

--> Operational activities will continue under the name Rheinmetall Expal Munitions, S.A.U.

--> Move expands production capacity and product range

--> Strong global demand for ammunition set to continue to grow





Move significantly expands the Group’s ammunition production capacity​


Rheinmetall AG has completed its takeover of all shares in Expal Systems S.A.U. of Madrid. First announced last November, the acquisition follows final approval by the relevant authorities. The transfer of Expal S.A.U.’s business activities to Rheinmetall took place on 1 August 2023. Rheinmetall thus continues to expand its position as an important supplier for NATO armed forces, systematically increasing its production capacity especially for artillery, mortar, and medium-calibre ammunition.


The purchase price for the takeover of Expal Systems S.A.U., a world-renowned ammunition and armament manufacturer, is about €1.2 billion. Moving forward, the company will operate under the name “Rheinmetall Expal Munitions, S.A.U.”.


In a fast-growing market driven by increased demand for military equipment in countries around the globe, the acquisition provides Rheinmetall with swift access to greater production capacity, covering the entire ammunition production value-added chain, with multiple plants in Spain and a demilitarization and soil remediation business in the United States.


In this market environment Rheinmetall is an important supplier to the Ukrainian armed forces with large amounts of medium- and large-calibre ammunition, including 20mm automatic cannon rounds for the Marder infantry fighting vehicle, and 105mm and 120mm tank ammunition for the Leopard 1 and Leopard 2. In addition, a first lot of 35mm ammunition for the Gepard anti-aircraft tank will soon be ready for shipment.


In acquiring Expal, Rheinmetall aims to secure and strengthen its core business in weapons, ammunition and propellants. The current Expal Systems product portfolio encompasses artillery ammunition, mortar and medium-calibre rounds as well as fuses and rocket propulsion systems. In many cases, Expal’s ammunition are “full shot” products, from propellant to fuse. Due to partly complementary product ranges, the acquisition significantly strengthens Rheinmetall’s existing product portfolio.


Given the likelihood of strong future demand in many countries, the acquisition places Rheinmetall in a favourable position to respond to complex new ammunition procurement requirements.


Enhancing its direct access to this important market, the acquisition expands Rheinmetall’s footprint in Spain, where the Group already has an automotive engineering plant in Abadiano. Rheinmetall Expal Munitions will continue to serve the Spanish armed forces as a preferential and key partner, offering its products, technology and industrial capabilities.


Rheinmetall sees maintaining the company’s existing technology and staff as essential; all locations (Madrid, Trubia, Burgos, Navalmoral, El Gordo, Albacete and Murcia in Spain as well as Texarkana in the USA) are therefore to remain fully operational, with further expansions planned.


Rheinmetall is very pleased to be welcoming a new company to the Group, and especially to be augmenting its workforce with highly skilled new staff. Reinforced by Rheinmetall Expal Munitions, the Group will continue contributing to global security, meeting the needs of a fast-growing market.


 

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Rheinmetall's Luna NG to see action in Ukraine - Düsseldorf - Based tech group supplying air-supported reconnaissance system on behalf of Germany



  • Rheinmetall supplying Ukraine with LUNA NG system
  • Key aerial reconnaissance capability with thousands of hours of operational flight experience
  • Order worth a figure in the low-two-digit millioneuro range; delivery slated for 2023
  • Max. operating altitude: 5,000 metres
  • Reconnaissance capability of several hundred kilometres


Rheinmetall has reached another milestone with its LUNA NG reconnaissance drone. The Group’s next-generation LUNA-NG air-supported short-range reconnaissance system will soon be in action in Ukraine. The system should be ready for delivery in the course of 2023. The order now placed is worth a low double-digit million euro amount. Rheinmetall is therefore making another important contribution to enhancing the effectiveness of the Ukrainian military through advanced technology. The LUNA NG has already clocked on several thousand hours of flying time, to include active deployment.


Experience accumulated during the war in Ukraine shows how crucial having real-time reconnaissance results can be at the operational level. This is precisely the purpose of the LUNA NG, an acronym standing for “Unbemannte Nahaufklärungs-ausstattung der nächsten Generation” or “unmanned short-range reconnaissance equipment, next generation”. The last word in unmanned air-supported reconnaissance, it can detect, classify and recognize objects in real time.


An unmanned aerial system, the LUNA NG comprises a ground control station and several unmanned aerial vehicles, otherwise known as drones. The system also includes the launch catapult, an optional net equipment for catching the drones when they land as well as equipment for rapid repair. The entire system is mounted on an HX truck with a swap body system made by Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles.


Thanks to their ultralight high-stability design, LUNA NG drones can remain aloft for over twelve hours. Moreover, when fitted with optional StaCom equipment, they have a datalink range of up to 300 kilometres. It has a reconnaissance capability of several hundred kilometres with sufficient time over the mission area.


The LUNA NG system ordered for Ukraine is part of an extensive military aid package initiated by the German government in July 2023. The Bundeswehr is currently introducing the LUNA NG unmanned reconnaissance system under the name “Husar”.


Now placed, this order represents a major milestone for Rheinmetall’s UAV and the Group’s digitalization strategy. LUNA NG is an advanced sensor component for networked operations, which significantly increases the performance of the sensor-to-shooter chain. At the same time, LUNA NG provides the basis for future development of Rheinmetall's product portfolio both in the field of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capabilities and in the field of tactical payloads.


 

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Rheinmetall opens Lynx infantry fighting vehicle factory in Zalaegerszeg , Hungary



  • Rheinmetall opens new Lynx IFV factory in Hungary on 18 August
  • Cutting-edge production facility for armoured fighting vehicles
  • 350 new jobs planned
  • Rheinmetall plays an important part in Hungary’s “Zrínyi 2026” initiative


Europe’s most advanced plant for armoured vehicles​


Rheinmetall officially opened its new factory in Zalaegerszeg on 18 August 2023. The new plant marks a major milestone for Rheinmetall and underscores the Group’s commitment to Hungary. In future, this cutting-edge facility will produce the Lynx infantry fighting vehicle, the world’s most advanced IFV.


"The opening of Rheinmetall’s new factory in Zalaegerszeg is a significant step for our company and a sign of our close ties with the government and armed forces of Hungary, an EU partner and fellow NATO member state”, declared Armin Papperger, chairman of the executive board of Rheinmetall AG. “We’re proud to be part of the growing industrial community in Zalaegerszeg and look forward to working with local partners and drawing on local talent. Hundreds of people are working together here in Zalaegerszeg to produce top-notch military systems for the Hungarian armed forces as well as export customers.”


Headquartered in Zalaegerszeg, Rheinmetall Hungary Zrt. focuses on the development and manufacture of state-of-the-art tracked and wheeled armoured vehicles for the Hungarian military, especially the new Lynx infantry fighting vehicle.


Rheinmetall plays an important part in Hungary’s “Zrínyi 2026” initiative, which aims to reequip the country’s armed forces with locally produced modern equipment.


The Hungarian defence ministry has contracted with Rheinmetall, Europe’s foremost maker of systems and equipment for ground forces, to supply it with the world’s most advanced tracked and wheeled armoured fighting vehicles, including associated services.


Rheinmetall sees Hungary as a home market to be supplied with Hungarian-made products. In this context, a new, extremely well-equipped development, production and test centre is now being built on a 33-hectar site in Zala County in southwest Hungary, including an EMV/ CLIMA chamber and a firing tunnel. In designing the plant, special emphasis was placed on the latest industrialization principles as well as flexibility, growth potential, efficiency, the implementation of advanced transport and logistics concepts and cutting-edge production techniques. In the quality control domain, a 3D measurement cell will guarantee fast, permanent, automated assurance of component quality, setting a new standard here as well. Over the next few years, another 350 new jobs are planned at the Zalaegerszeg plant.

Rheinmetall supplying state-of-the-art tracked and wheeled armoured vehicles and associated services​


The contract encompasses 209 Lynx KF41 in seven variants, plus 18 combat support vehicles, including Büffel/Buffalo 3 armoured recovery vehicles, as well as 38 military trucks. In addition, the contract incorporates products and services such as simulators; training and instruction; and an initial stock of spare parts and maintenance support. Throughout the Lynx’s decades-long anticipated lifespan, spare parts and regular maintenance will be needed to ensure operational readiness.


In a first production phase, Hungary will be supplied with 46 Lynx systems configured as infantry fighting vehicles or for a command & control role, plus nine Büffel/Buffalo 3 ARVs, all of which will be made in Germany. Delivery has already begun. In a second phase, a joint venture will build and ship a further 172 Lynx systems and various combat support vehicles in Hungary.


The new factory will do more than just contribute to the regional economy. It will also promote innovation and the creation of highly qualified jobs. Looking ahead, Rheinmetall plans to keep investing in the plant in order to increase production capacity and integrate new technologies.


In setting up this factory, Rheinmetall is signalling its confidence in the growth potential of the Hungarian economy and the skills and abilities of Hungarian workers. By creating jobs and fostering special knowledge, Rheinmetall is helping to further strengthen the Hungarian economy and defence industry, simultaneously establishing its ultramodern, future-proof Lynx infantry fighting vehicle – equipped with advanced high-performance sensors and the Lance weapon station – in the global market.


 

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Rheinmetall wins multi-million-euro order from Australia for strategic naval warfare systems



--> For Rheinmetall, the order is worth a figure of several millions of Euro with potential growth in the coming
years


--> Confirmation of RWM Italia as market leading Company

--> Long term program between Rheinmetall and the Australian Defence Forces

--> Rheinmetall Defence Australia to proide incountry sustainment during entire life cycle



RWM Italia S.p.A., a wholly owned subsidiary of Rheinmetall AG in Italy, has won an order from the Commonwealth of Australia to deliver a significant quantity of smart sea mines. For Rheinmetall, the order is worth a figure of low three-digit million-euro range with potential growth in the coming years.


This important contract underscores once again the great trust the Common-wealth of Australia places in Rheinmetall and its products. The Australian Defence Forces have purchased latest generation of Rheinmetall smart sea mines, which will strengthen the Australian maritime Defence capabilities, with mines able to be deployed from several platforms. Defence evaluated market options last year, and has selected RWM Italia to provide the capability.


RWM Italia was assessed by the Commonwealth of Australia to possess both the technology to meet ADF strategic objectives and the ability to produce the quantities of mines required. The types and numbers of sea mines to be provided are classified, but delivery is expected to commence this year.


Rapidly deployable and technologically sophisticated, the RWM Italia smart mines will provide a new level of deterrence to any potential adversary. Australian Industry will be engaged in the ongoing sustainment of the capability. The Group’s centre of excellence for underwater defence systems, RWM Italia is a leader in the strategic domain of multi-influence naval mines and mine-clearing systems, with a presence in over 20 countries.


 

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ANACONDA : GDELS and Rheinmetall to present HX 8x8-based wheeled tactical bridge-laying system at Rü.Net 2023 conferance



  • GDELS and Rheinmetall to present ANACONDA bridge-laying system mounted on HX 8x8

  • Based on tried-andtested, previously fielded technologies

  • Robust, high-mobility system for medium and heavyweight forces



General Dynamics European Land Systems – Bridge Systems and Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles have presented for the first time the ANACONDA tactical bridge-laying system mounted on a high-mobility 8x8 HX2 carrier vehicle at the 5th User Forum Armament and Utilization – RÜ.NET 2023 conference held on August 30 - 31 in Koblenz. The bridge, the laying mechanism and vehicle together provide a dry-gap bridge capability for medium- and heavyweight forces.


The ANACONDA from GDELS is the latest version of the well-known BIBER (“beaver”) bridge, over 300 of which have been built for the Bundeswehr, Germany’s NATO partners and other export customers. Mounting the bridges on Rheinmetall’s HX family of tactical trucks, which are in service with numerous armed forces, provides substantial advantages regarding interoperability, training, service and the supply of spare parts, contributing to the system’s low lifecycle costs.


RMMV’s HX family are among the world’s most widely used military trucks. Over 16,000 are in service around the globe. Many NATO nations already have HX vehicles in their inventory, resulting in valuable synergies in multinational operations.


 

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Rheinmetall and WilNor Governmental Services, together with experienced Norwegian and German companies, will collaborate to remove unexploded ordnance in German waters




  • Rheinmetall and WilNor Governmental Services to cooperate in ammunition disposal in North Sea and Baltic
  • Construction of an innovative offshore platform planned
  • Environmentally sustainable disposal of torpedo warheads, mine and ammunition
  • Pilot plant planned in the dumping zone of Kiel Bight




By combining maritime and technical expertise, the partners will answer the request for quote issued by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection, for ordnance removal.


With reference to an earlier statement by German Naval Yards, Rheinmetall bring together partners to answer the request for quote (RFQ) issued by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV). Complimenting experience and infrastructure make for a strong constellation between Rheinmetall, WilNor Governmental Services, and an extended group of companies. Together, the constellation brings extensive experience and technology to remove unexploded ordnance safely and responsibly.


Rheinmetall has extensive and long-standing expertise in this domain, having planned and implemented concepts and facilities for ammunition disposal for many years.


WilNor Governmental Services, a subsidiary company of the Wilhelmsen group, brings the logistics and maritime operations element. The Wilhelmsen group, based in Norway, is the world's largest maritime network, with activities concentrated on providing products and services to the maritime industry, offshore logistics and technology, renewable energy, ship management, and complex logistical solutions for operating under difficult offshore conditions.


The partners plan to jointly develop and operate an innovative offshore platform for ammunition disposal. Contaminated sites will be cleaned up in a safe and responsible manner, with ammunition disposal taking place offshore at the innovative offshore platform, minimising the danger to marine life and the natural environment.


Future ocean plans

Plans for future offshore wind turbine parks in the same waters, demands a safe seabed. Enabling that reality requires responsible and safe removal of millions of tons of unexploded ordnance first. “We want to assure a cleaner and healthier marine environment. Unexploded ordnance and substances can be unstable and dangerous, and we will avoid the risk of transporting these. It is therefore important that we can safely and responsibly recover unexploded ordnance and render it harmless on the spot. We also aim to minimise the impact on the underwater world and its inhabitants, and prevent future hazards,” says Dr. Deniz Akitürk, managing director of Rheinmetall Project Solutions GmbH. “Time is of the essence because the condition of the ammunition is deteriorating. Effects on the environment are already visible.”


The constellation of companies is ready to build a reliable unexploded ordnance value chain and look for quick implementation to start surveys and preparations early in 2024. Once all preparation and necessary regulatory processes are completed, the constellation is ready to construct the innovative offshore platform.


The constellation companies are able to expand from pilot to a full-scale industrial level value chain that can handle more efficient multiple platforms in several operational areas simultaneously.


 

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Rheinmetall supplies Norway with a Mission Master XT after demonstrating its capabilities in hostile Nordic conditions



  • Rheinmetall supplied Norway with a Mission Master XT at the beginning of August

  • The autonomous vehicle demonstrated its subzero capabilities during trials in Finland

  • The Rheinmetall Canada team delivered a presentation in Norway on August 23-24 on "How to speed up the adoption of and trust towards UGVs"


Rheinmetall has supplied Norway with its very first Rheinmetall Mission Master XT, an extreme-terrain unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) capable of thriving in sub-zero temperatures.


The Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (the prime institution responsible for defence-related research and development in Norway) awarded Rheinmetall the contract after it won a competitive bid with challenging mobility and schedule requirements.

A tried-and-tested solution for Nordic countries​

This contract comes just months after Rheinmetall took part in the Artic Mobility Trials in Finland, where the autonomy and mobility of the Rheinmetall Mission Master XT were put to the test. Despite a challenging environment and -30°C weather conditions, the vehicle successfully navigated through icy rivers and climbed up slippery banks.


"We are proud to have developed systems that can withstand some of the world’s harshest conditions. These recent trials have proven that we are in a strong position to meet the needs of Nordic countries that face similar challenges to us here in Canada," stated Alain Tremblay, vice president for business development and innovation at Rheinmetall Canada.


Rheinmetall Mission Master XT, an extreme terrain UGV​

Developed by Rheinmetall Canada in 2021, the Rheinmetall Mission Master XT can tackle ice and snow, as well as sandy, rocky and mountainous topography. Its advanced amphibious capabilities allow it to float and swim while maintaining its full payload capacity. Weighing in at 2,217 kg, this powerful A-UGV can carry a 1000 kg payload, allowing troops to transport special equipment to hard-to-reach locations. The diesel-powered engine allows it to travel 750 km without refuelling, while internal batteries enable up to 6 hours of silent watch operations. Another key feature of the Rheinmetall Mission Master XT is its high-performance continuous tyre inflation system, which adjusts the tire pressure according to the terrain.


Like other platforms in the Rheinmetall Mission Master family, the XT vehicle is driven by Rheinmetall PATH, an AI-powered navigation system that can be installed on any vehicle. This agnostic suite of advanced sensors and perception algorithms enables Mission Master vehicles to navigate autonomously through challenging environments, while keeping soldiers out of harm’s way.


The Rheinmetall Canada team took part in the Norwegian Army Technology Days 2023 on August 23 and 24, where it has delivered a presentation on "How to speed up the adoption of and trust towards UGVs".


 

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Made in Germany - first shipment of new Gepard ammunition now on its way to Ukraine



  • 35mm ammunition for Gepard antiaircraft tank shipped to Ukraine

  • 300,000 rounds ordered; production now relocated to Germany

  • Elaborate postdevelopment process

  • New production facility in Unterlüss to provide a secure supply of ammunition for the Gepard

  • Rheinmetall experts in Germany, Switzerland, and Italy contributed to the project’s success



A first shipment of new ammunition for the Gepard antiaircraft tank is now headed for Ukraine. Per agreement, Rheinmetall AG of Düsseldorf has shipped a first lot of 35mm air defence ammunition as part of German support for Ukraine’s defensive struggle. By the end of this year, 40,000 rounds are to be produced and provided.


In Ukraine the shipments from Germany are eagerly awaited: with its 35mm twin guns, the Gepard has emerged as a decisive factor in the embattled nation’s fight to defend itself. The German government has made 46 of these antiaircraft tanks available, with another six to follow. For Ukraine, they play an essential part in the struggle to control its airspace, having proved highly effective in countering the kamikaze drones Russia uses to attack Ukrainian cities. They are almost permanently in action, making ammunition consumption correspondingly high.


Rheinmetall has long produced much of its ammunition for medium-calibre weapons in Switzerland; now, however, new production capacity for supplying the Gepard systems has been created in Germany, where a multimillion-euro figure has been invested in plant and equipment.


In February 2023 Boris Pistorius, the German defence minister, announced at a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group that capacity for producing ammunition for the Gepard would be created in Germany at Rheinmetall. A contract for the rapid delivery of a total of 300,000 rounds of ammunition for the antiaircraft tank had already been signed several days earlier. Owing to the urgency and high political relevance of the project, the pressure to complete the new facility was immense from day one, requiring a true technological and logistical tour de force.


In the words of Rheinmetall AG executive board chairman Armin Papperger, “We keep our promises. Just six months after signing the contract, we’ve already started delivery, as agreed. My sincere thanks go to the men and women of Rheinmetall who have done so much to make this project a success, even working on weekends. Our subcontractors and vendors deserve praise as well, having helped us to achieve what at first seemed impossible. The pressure to succeed was huge – but so was our commitment to getting the job done. We want to help the people of Ukraine. Every drone that’s shot down saves lives!”


The German government left no stone unturned in its effort to supply Ukraine with fresh ammunition, including abroad – albeit in vain. In Germany stocks of the ammunition had dropped to zero, as the Gepard systems had been retired from service some fifteen years earlier. Other countries declined to make available existing stocks of ammunition, citing either political considerations or constitutional restrictions.


In the end, it was a tightly woven intermeshing of expertise of Rheinmetall technicians and engineers in Switzerland, Germany and Italy that made creating the new production facility possible.


The problem: earlier tools for producing the original ammunition were simply no longer there. The solution turned out to be a mix of reverse engineering and adaptive development quite unlike anything seen before: existing 35mm ammunition from the main armament of an infantry fighting vehicle was modified for use in the Gepard. Making sure that the Gepard fire control unit could reliably recognize the ammunition was a special challenge.


Despite their excellent performance, the electronics and fire control technology of the aging antiaircraft tank – developed in the 1960s – proved to be a veritable black box. At the same time, the supply chain for the new ammunition had to be expanded in order to minimize as far as possible the Swiss value-added share.


As Armin Papperger puts it, “We have an unbeatable strength at Rheinmetall: namely, the broad-based expertise that comes with being a systems house. Whether in ammunition development, mechanical production and materials knowledge, in the development of air defence weaponry, in comprehensive live fire testing, in the design and construction of production facilities – everywhere our experts worked with tremendous drive and great personal commitment to complete the project. They knew how urgently Ukraine needed the ammunition and the sooner, the better.”


Following multiple tests at the Group’s proving ground at Unterlüss in Lower Saxony, the verification programme was concluded in May 2023 when the ammunition was successfully fired by a Gepard antiaircraft tank.


Meanwhile, at one of Rheinmetall’s civil sector plants in Neuss, an LAAP line was designed and subsequently built at a Group facility in Lanciano, Italy, before being transferred to Unterlüss. LAP stands for loading, assembly and packing, the process in which the cartridges are loaded with propellant; the various parts of the round are put together; and subsequently packaged. The propellant powder comes from Nitrochemie, by the way, another member of the Group.


A total of 40,000 rounds are to be delivered this year. Ukraine will be receiving 150,000 rounds each of two different types of ammunition. One of these is a subcalibre APDS-T munition containing heavy metal penetrators, and thus especially suitable for engaging hardened targets. Rheinmetall is also supplying Ukraine with conventional HEI-T high-explosive incendiary ammunition designed for bringing down typical air defence targets, e.g., aircraft and guided missiles.


 

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Ground-breaking ceremony: Rheinmetall begins construction of state-of-the-art F-35 factory in Weeze , Germany



  • Rheinmetall starts construction of state-of-the-art factory for production of fuselage sections for the F-35 fighter aircraft in Weeze
  • Groundbreaking ceremony on 1 August 2023 was attended by top officials
  • Collaboration with Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin
  • Production starts in 2025
  • 400 highly skilled jobs, other companies to be included



Rheinmetall and US-based Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin have begun construction of a state-of-the-art factory for the F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft center fuselage. On 1 August 2023, a ground-breaking ceremony took place at the Weeze Airport site in the Kleve district of western Germany. It was attended by Hendrik Wüst, governor of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Numerous other guests from the world of politics, civil society, the armed forces and industry also took part, including Mona Neubaur, the minister for economic affairs, industry, climate protection and energy of North Rhine-Westphalia; Vice Admiral Carsten Stawitzki, chief of the equipment division in the German ministry of defence; Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz, supreme commander of the German Air Force; and Annette Lehnigk-Emden, head of the Federal Office of Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support, the German procurement agency, and US Consul General NRW Pauline Kao.


The world’s top-performing warplane, the F-35 Lightning II is now being procured by the German Air Force. Rheinmetall is investing more than €100 million to build a cutting-edge production facility. Featuring state-of-the-art technology developed and used by Northrop Grumman in producing the F-35 center fuselage at the company’s facility in Palmdale, California, the planned factory will be operated under the auspices of Rheinmetall Aviation Services GmbH. It will have 30,000 square metres of production space. Over 400 highly skilled staff will crew the ultramodern plant, which will also include logistics and warehouse facilities, research and test centres, classrooms and quality control units.


This effort represents the standup of a second source for F-35 center fuselages, allowing Northrop Grumman and Rheinmetall to jointly produce up to 185 center sections annually.


The Weeze plant is due to produce at least 400 F-35 fuselage sections for the air forces of Germany and other friendly nations. An integrated technology group, Rheinmetall will be drawing here on its extensive experience in fabricating sophisticated components as well as in the aviation domain. Production is expected to begin in 2025.


Rheinmetall will also be including other companies with relevant technical capabilities in the F-35 programme, creating or securing numerous jobs in various sectors.


"With the F-35 factory here in Weeze, we are creating a new nucleus for aerospace technology in North Rhine-Westphalia and opening a new chapter in German-American cooperation," declared Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger. "The F-35 Lightning II is a core element of Western security preparedness. Just as the former Royal Air Force base at Weeze was a pillar of NATO air defence during the Cold War, the Rheinmetall factory in Weeze is destined to play a significant role for NATO's F-35 user nations. We are aware of this responsibility and will do everything in our power to ensure that our F-35 fuselage production is a success."


“The proven success of our Integrated Assembly Line helps to ensure that Northrop Grumman affordably manufactures a next-generation aircraft that meets the needs of a growing number of international customers,”
said Tom Jones, corporate vice president and president, Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems. “Combined with Rheinmetall’s experience with German Armed Forces and European industry, the collaboration with Rheinmetall and Lockheed Martin will foster critical skills and energize the region’s economy with high-tech job opportunities.”


 
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Major order from Germany government: Rheinmetall to supply Ukraine with a further 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles



  • At the behest of the German government, Rheinmetall is supplying Ukraine with a further 40 Marder IFVs

  • Delivery is due to begin this year

  • Order is worth a figure in the upper-two-digit million-euro range

  • Work is already underway at Rheinmetall’s plants in Kassel and Unterlüss




The German government has commissioned Rheinmetall to supply 40 more Marder infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine. Placed in August 2023, the order is worth a high double-digit million-euro amount. Rheinmetall is pressing ahead with work to overhaul these older vehicles and ensure that the latest lot of Marder IFVs can be delivered as per contract starting in 2023.


This order brings the total number of Marder vehicles to be supplied by Rheinmetall to Ukraine to eighty. On 21 March 2023 the company already shipped the first twenty infantry fighting vehicles ordered by the German government for Ukraine. In addition, another twenty Rheinmetall IFVs were ordered in June 2023. These are currently being overhauled and delivered.


The vehicles being made available are overhauled Marder 1A3 systems formerly owned by the Bundeswehr. As early as spring 2022, Rheinmetall began restoring the infantry fighting vehicles to a state of immediate combat readiness at its own expense.


Work is already underway at Rheinmetall’s plants in Kassel and Unterlüß. The Group can deliver up to ten infantry fighting vehicles a month.


Developed for the Bundeswehr and still in service with the German Army, the Marder infantry fighting vehicle numbers among the most reliable weapons systems of its kind anywhere. Steadily modernized, the vehicle has undergone repeated combat upgrades in the course of its career.


 

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Military aid package : Rheinmetall transfers mobile field hospital to Ukrainian armed forces




  • Rheinmetall transfers mobile field hospital to Ukraine

  • Project completed in just 12 months

  • Order worth around €9 million

  • Autarkic major medical facility with 32 patient beds




Rheinmetall has supplied Ukraine with a mobile field hospital. Just one year ago, in September 2022, the German ministry of defence awarded Group subsidiary Rheinmetall Mobile Systeme GmbH, or RMS, the contract for the hospital and related training support. The order is worth around €9 million.


This state-of-the-art field hospital encompasses 32 beds, including eight intensive care beds, an operating room with associated sterilization facilities, diagnostic imaging technology (x-ray and computer tomography), a laboratory, a pharmacy, and administrative and personnel tracts. It therefore complies with NATO Role 2 medical support standards. In two additional deliveries scheduled for late 2023 and early 2024, RMS will also be supplying Ukraine with two high-mobility medical support facilities.


Besides the field hospital itself, Rheinmetall has also furnished Ukraine with the necessary transport assets. A total of ten truck/trailer combinations carried the twenty containers to their destination.


The hospital is a complete autarkic medical support unit. It not only includes medical modules in expandable containers and tents, but also an independent power generation capability and facilities for producing medical gases. The hospital also features its own water supply, including treatment and decontamination as well as billets with sanitation modules for patients and personnel. The high quality of the system is apparent in the exacting details. For example, the water supply network is heated and the sensitive computer tomograph in the container is spring loaded with an elaborate transport system. It can therefore be safely transported by land, sea or air, and is ready to operate upon arrival. Designed for maximum operational mobility, all of the systems and equipment in the hospital can be reused repeatedly.


As RMS managing director Hauke Bindzus explains, “What sets us apart from other contractors isn't just our experience. It’s our attention to detail when it comes to combining the individual components, and especially our focus on ergonomics and system resilience. We enable our partners to provide top-quality medical care in a truly mobile system.”


The transfer of the mobile field hospital was a two-step operation: first, ten Ukrainian soldiers took part in a 14-day training course to learn how to assemble and disassemble and operate the hospital. The formal handover to Ukraine then took place at a specified location.


RMS staff members trained the Ukrainian troops in a trade fair hall in Friedrichshafen in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. Half the Ukrainian team already had a medical background, the other half, prior technical training. To take part in the two-week course, they travelled directly from their area of operations in Ukraine to Germany.


In the words of Hauke Bindzus, “We kept our word and have supplied the Ukrainian military with a major first-class field hospital at extremely short notice. The men and women of our company and those of our partners demonstrated outstanding commitment in carrying out this project. We never forgot for a single day how important a speedy delivery was. This system will hopefully save many lives in Ukraine. We are proud to be contributing our special capabilities to Rheinmetall’s support for Ukraine.”


 

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Rheinmetall presenting high-mobility ANACONDA bridge-layer at FIREmobil show



  • ANACONDA bridge-laying system at FIREmobil tradeshow

  • FIREmobil takes place from 14 to 16 September at Welzow in Brandenburg

  • Visitors can learn about the many advantages and operational possibilities of the system



From 14 to 16 September, the Düsseldorf-based technology group Rheinmetall is presenting the new HX ANACONDA wheeled bridge-laying system at the FIREmobil show at Welzow in the German state of Brandenburg. The exhibition and performance show brings together users and deciders from the crisis response and disaster relief community. Rheinmetall is putting forward the bridge-laying system as a solution for civil and military cooperation in crisis situations and natural disasters.


The bridge-layer consists of the Anaconda bridge-laying system from General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) and an HX 8x8 carrier vehicle from Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV). An optional protected 10x10 variant could potentially expand the portfolio, enabling high-risk operations in terrain with unexploded ordnance, for example.


Developed in accordance with exacting military standards, the bridge-layer can carry out rapid bridge-laying operations on its own. It erects temporary bridges quickly and efficiently over obstacles such as rivers, culverts or destroyed roads – even in inhospitable terrain. The HX ANACONDA replaces destroyed or weakened crossings either with its robust 22-metre bridge or an equally qualified 2x12-metre variant from GDELS. Its high load-carrying capacity means that it can handle even modern main battle tanks, meaning that is suitable for emergency response teams and heavy equipment of all types.


Visitors will be able to view that system at close quarters and see for themselves its many advantages and operational possibilities. Moreover, other HX vehicles will be presented statically and dynamically, including an excavator variant built in cooperation with CSM Industry. A militarised TG-mil 8x8 logistics truck will be on hand as well.


 

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Bundeswehr successfully concludes laser weapon trials at sea




  • Integration and testing of laser weapon demonstrator onboard the German frigate SACHSEN successfully completed

  • More than 100 test firings

  • Various scenarios staged under realistic conditions

  • Effective cooperation between BAAINBw, the German Navy, MBDA Deutschland GmbH and Rheinmetall




After integration of the laser weapon demonstrator (LWD) onboard the German frigate “SACHSEN” in June 2022, the trials of the LWD at sea have successfully been completed. Responsible for development and construction as well as the support during the trials that have been planned and organised by the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw), is the High-Energy Laser Naval Demonstrator Working Group, or ARGE, consisting of MBDA Deutschland GmbH and Rheinmetall.


During the trials with overall six campaigns lasting nearly a year, the combat effectiveness of the laser weapon demonstrator, or LWD, has been proven in increasingly complex scenarios under realistic operating conditions against different target types. This included all aspects from detection and tracking (including highly agile targets); the interplay of sensors, command and weapon engagement systems and effectors; possible rules of engagement; and of course the successful engagement of targets with a high-energy laser beam.


The LWD has performed more than a hundred test firings onboard the Sachsen and proved that a laser is capable of successfully engaging targets in a maritime environment. At the end of the trials, the LWD’s capabilities were successfully demonstrated at two VIP days in front of high-ranking representatives of the Federal Office for Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw), the Germany Navy and Army as well as the Bundeswehr Office for Defence Planning (PlgABw), which among other things including shooting down a drone. Also, representatives of the British, Netherlands and Norwegian Navy participated during the demonstration. The huge success of the test campaign was the outcome of an excellent cooperation between BAAINBw incl. its subordinate detachments, the German Navy and especially the crew of the frigate “SACHSEN” and the ARGE.


Following nearly a year of tests, BAAINBw and the defence industry have gained valuable knowledge into the operational possibilities, performance capabilities and development potential of high-energy laser effectors. The demonstrator is currently undergoing detailed examination, after which it will be transferred to Bundeswehr Technical Centre 91 in Meppen. The test results and subsequent analysis will be used for minimizing risks in a possible next phase, i.e., the development of an operational laser weapon system.


The prerequisites for the development of a first laser weapon have generally been set. Both companies have launched internal preparations for the development phase within their own field of responsibility.


Complementing gun-based systems and guided missiles, an operational laser weapon system lends itself particularly to countering the threat from drones, drone swarms, speedboats and possibly missiles at close to very close range. In future, moreover, it could undergo a performance upgrade for destroying supersonic missiles, rockets as well as mortar and artillery rounds.


 

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A new HUSAR in the sky : Rheinmetall wins Bundeswehr order to supply LUNA NG air-supported reconnaisance system



  • Rheinmetall supplying Bundeswehr with 13 LUNA NG systems

  • Order worth over €200 million, first production system due to be delivered in 2025

  • Will be assigned to German Army’s reconnaissance branch and also to the artillery

  • Attains a maximum altitude of 5,000 metres

  • Flight time exceeds 12 hours



The German Bundeswehr has contracted with Rheinmetall to supply the new LUNA NG air-supported reconnaissance drone. The amendment contract signed on 28 September 2023 by the President of Germany’s Federal Office for Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support, or BAAINBw, Annette Lehnigk-Emden, serves to continue the project with the new contractor Rheinmetall following the insolvency of the original system manufacturer. The amendment contract concretises the measures resulting from the takeover of the procurement contract by Rheinmetall. The takeover contract was already concluded in 2022.

The LUNA NG, a German acronym standing for “Air-supported Unmanned Short-range Reconnaissance Equipment, Next Generation”, will be known in the German armed forces as HUSAR. In all, twelve production systems have been ordered as well as a pilot system. The order is worth around €200 million (without value added tax). The first production system is due to be delivered in the second quarter of 2025. Also included in the order are a spare parts package and training support.


The HUSAR – as the name suggests – will be assigned to the German Army’s reconnaissance branch and also to the artillery. Another German acronym, HUSAR stands for “High-Efficiency Unmanned System for Medium-Range Reconnaissance”. Each system consists of five reconnaissance drones, two ground control systems, two launcher vehicles, two antenna masts, a repair shop and three transport platforms.


Experience gained in the war in Ukraine shows the decisive importance of real-time reconnaissance results at operational level. The LUNA NG was developed precisely for this purpose. It is one of the world’s newest systems for unmanned air-supported reconnaissance, classification and recognition of objects in real time.


Along with its outstanding performance parameters and type certification by Germany’s Federal Aviation Office, the LUNA NG is unique in its weight class, with a maximum take-off weight of 110 kilograms. Thanks to its aerodynamic, ultralight, high-stability design, the LUNA NG can remain aloft for over 12 hours.


Now official, the new order marks another important milestone for the UAV as well for Rheinmetall’s digitalization strategy. LUNA NG is a state-of-the-art sensor component for network-enabled operations which significantly enhances the effectiveness of the sensor-to-shooter chain. At the same time, the LUNA NG offers a basis for future development of the Rheinmetall product portfolio, including a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capability and new tactical possibilities thanks to a payload capacity of over 30 kilograms.


 

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Another order for Rheinmetall in the field of automated reconnaissance systems for Ukraine - order in the two - digit million - euro range




  • Rheinmetall is supplying Ukraine again with automated reconnaissance systems

  • Equipment being provided at the behest of the German government

  • Carried out in cooperation with DefSecIntel of Estonia

  • Order worth a figure in the low double-digit million-euro range




Rheinmetall has again been awarded a contract to supply automated reconnaissance systems to Ukraine. The order was placed by the German government. Rheinmetall has again been awarded a contract to supply automated reconnaissance systems to Ukraine. The order was placed by the German government. SurveilSpire is a drone defence system designed to reconnoitre and engage hostile drones. The reconnaissance systems include mobile surveillance towers with day and night vision camera equipment, autopiloted mini-drones and a command and control system. Transport vehicles are also included in the scope of delivery. The systems are used in particular to monitor sections of terrain with as few personnel as possible. The system can also provide a 5G network. Rheinmetall is cooperating on the project with the Estonian company DefSecIntel. The order value is in the lower double-digit million euro range. Delivery has already begun.


Made by Estonia’s DefSecIntel, the SurveilSPIRE surveillance towers can be loaded onto trailers and quickly transported to their area of operation. Assembly requires three personnel; operation is fully automated. The system includes wireless links (4G and Starlink) for video transmission to a mobile command post. Solar panels enable sustained operation without power cables or a fuel source. The system relies on autopiloted reconnaissance drones that conduct patrols and mission-specific flights. This enables inspection of detected threats and lets the operator initiate necessary countermeasures.


Rheinmetall is already taking part in several projects in support of Ukraine. These include deliveries of Marder infantry fighting vehicles, ammunition of various calibres, field hospitals, military trucks and, soon, a LUNA Next Generation reconnaissance system. Furthermore, Rheinmetall is a partner in multiple multilateral “Ringtausch” transactions. This procedure, developed by the German government, is designed to support the Ukrainian war effort in cooperation with Germany’s European neighbours and NATO partners. Here, NATO member nations transfer Soviet-era equipment to Ukraine in exchange for surplus Western-made systems.


 

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Second call-off from Rheinmetall framework contract: Bundeswehr orders artillery ammunition




  • Second call-off from framework contract for 155mm artillery ammunition

  • Tens of thousands shells for the armed forces of Ukraine and Germany

  • Order worth a figure in the lower three-digit million-euro range




Rheinmetall has booked a major order for 155mm artillery ammunition following a second call-off under an existing framework order with the German government. The latter has contracted with the Düsseldorf-based tech group to supply the Ukrainian armed forces with tens of thousands of L15 rounds as well as conventional 155mm Assegai shells for the German military. The order is worth a figure in the lower three-digit million-euro range. Delivery is scheduled to take place in 2024.


As recently as July 2023, Rheinmetall announced the signing of a new framework agreement for artillery ammunition with the Bundeswehr and the expansion of an existing agreement. The contracts encompass the delivery of several hundred thousand shells, fuses and propelling charges.


The war in Ukraine has compelled the armed forces of numerous nations to replenish their ammunition stocks. In this context, Rheinmetall has already booked several large orders for artillery ammunition.


The recently concluded framework agreement for 155mm artillery ammunition runs until 2029 and represents gross potential order volume of around €1.2 billion. The first orders of service and practice ammunition came directly after the contract was signed.


Among other products, Rheinmetall’s family of artillery ammunition includes the high-explosive DM121 shell, the DM125 smoke/obscurant projectile and (jointly developed with Diehl) the DM702 SMArt sensor fuse munition, plus the RH68 practice round and the range-optimized RH1901 an RH1902 smoke/obscurant projectiles. The Group’s portfolio also includes the versatile 155mm Assegai family from Rheinmetall Denel Munition, which encompasses insensitive ammunition and conventional HE shells as well as smoke/obscurant, illumination, infrared illumination and other projectiles. All Assegai artillery ammunition types have a maximum range of approximately 40 kilometres. Under the latest framework agreement, the tried-and-tested Assegai ammunition family will now be entering service with the Bundeswehr.


 

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