Login
iscover
Two European NATO customers have engaged the prime contractor for the supply of 40mm ammunition, with the orders expected to total over 50,000 rounds.
To continue reading the rest of this article, please log in.
Create free account to get unlimited news articles and more!
One contract — for the delivery of 45,000 40 mm x 53 high-velocity, high-explosive tracer airburst munition-calibre programmable cartridges — forms part of an additional order between Rheinmetall and an existing customer originally for the supply of 300,000 rounds of the ammunition signed in December.
Delivery of the additional order is expected to commence in early 2024.
The global defence prime also confirmed that it has been engaged by an additional European NATO country for 10,000 40 mm x 53 HV HE-T ABM rounds, with deliveries expecting to begin mid-year.
According to the prime contractor, this particular 40mm round is primarily used for combatting drone systems.
Just days ago, Rheinmetall reported that the contract was in the three-digit million-euro range with work scheduled to begin in 2023.
Rheinmetall Italia is confirmed to oversee the contract.
Under the agreement, Rheinmetall is upgrading the customer’s 35mm twin guns, with the program bringing them up to the latest Oerlikon GDF009 standard.
The newer standard is expected to provide enhanced air defence capabilities against a range of aerial threats including small uncrewed systems, and is capable of employing newer ammunition types including Ahead airburst ammunition.
The GDF009 forms part of the prime contractor’s Skynex modern air defence system.
In December, Rheinmetall was additionally engaged by an undisclosed customer for the supply of two Skynex air defence systems.
The system is expected to be delivered in early 2024.
Separately, a memorandum of understanding was signed for the procurement of HX trucks for an estimated €12 million ($AU18.6 million) — to be delivered alongside the Skynex system.
Skynex is designed to offer short-range strike capability, responding when guided missiles are ineffective.
The capability also supports 35mm Ahead ammunition — also developed by Rheinmetall — which is resistant to electronic countermeasure technologies.
According to Rheinmetall, the success of the self-propelled Flakpanzer Gepard anti-aircraft system in Ukraine is a demonstration of the effectiveness of 35mm gun-based air defence against aerial targets.
