Rheinmetall Receives €1.3 Billion Artillery Ammunition Order for Bundeswehr
German arms company Rheinmetall has been awarded two contracts valued at €1.3 billion Euros for the supply of 155mm artillery ammunition. Specifically, this has been done through the expansion of an existing framework contract and the awarding of a new contract to the company by the German Government. The contracts are set to run until 2029 and will encompass a wide variety of shells, such as fuses and propelling charges.
Namely DM121, a high explosive insensitive ammunition used by the Bundeswehr in training and exercises. DM125, smoke/obscurant shell, the DM121 SMArt-search-fused round (developed with Diehl Defence), alongside the RH68 practice version, range-optimized RH1901 and RH1902 smoke/obscurant shells. Furthermore, Rheinmetall’s portfolio of Assegai 155mm artillery ammunition, produced by Rheinmetall Denel of South Africa will be introduced into Bundeswehr service. The munitions will likely be operated by vehicles such as the Panzerhaubitze 2000, a self-propelled howitzer designed by Rheinmetall and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann. The howitzer most well known for its recent operation in Ukraine against Russia, prompting Germany to order another 100 for the Ukrainian military.
Rheinmetall has applauded the contracts, specifically the longevity of them, guaranteeing production efficiency and optimization of the required specific munitions. Rheinmetall stating that “the order underscores the customers high trust in Rheinmetall’s world leading expertise in ammunition.” The contracts themselves are representative of the German Bundeswehr’s continued rearmament as it positions itself towards being the main provider of equipment and vehicles for NATO allies in Europe.