Rheinmetall Awarded €30 Million Tank Ammunition Contract
04 July 2005 14:03
New technology in response to new military requirements
Germany’s Bundeswehr has awarded the Rheinmetall Group with a tank ammunition contract worth approximately €30 million. The ammunition is designed especially for the Leopard 2 main battle tank (MBT). The contract was signed on July 1, 2005 at the Federal Agency for Defence Technology and Procurement (BWB) in Koblenz.
Developed specifically with the out-of-area missions of the German Army in mind, the new ammunition, based on tungsten technology and known as the DM 63, will close a capabilities gap.
Thanks to a new propulsion system, this KE round – unlike any other ammunition now available on the market – can be used not only in the most advanced version of the Leopard 2 tank, but also to expand the operational spectrum of the other 350 Leopard 2 MBTs remaining in the Bundeswehr’s inventory, without the need for additional technical modification. Its temperature-independent propulsion system constitutes a unique selling point, a technical feature unrivalled worldwide.
The contract underscores Rheinmetall’s leading edge position in the world of large-calibre armament and ammunition. Thanks to its superior main armament, the Leopard 2 is widely considered to be the world’s most effective main battle tank.
Some fifteen nations rely on large-calibre technology from Rheinmetall, giving this new generation of ammunition substantial export market potential.
For more information on this company:
Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH - Large Calibre Weapon Systems and Ammunition
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