General Dynamics, Rheinmetall Defence announce joint venture

General Dynamics has announced that its Ordnance and Tactical Systems business has formed a tank ammunition joint venture with Rheinmetall Defence. The new company has been named  Defense Munitions International (DMI), and will develop and market new and existing 120mm kinetic energy and multi-purpose cartridges for the US and international tank ammunition markets.

DMI will combine the General Dynamics and Rheinmetall’s full range of development, production and sales activities of 120mm tactical ammunition for main battle tanks. By combining their activities in DMI, the two partners aim to broaden their global market access, expand production efficiencies and selectively engage in joint development work. Select cartridge types and 120mm practice ammunition will not be part of this joint venture arrangement.

This forward-looking joint venture is the culmination of the longstanding partnership between General Dynamics and Rheinmetall Defence. For over a decade the two companies have worked together on numerous 120mm ammunition projects, such as the development and production of the KEW-A1 and KEW-A2 advanced tungsten kinetic energy ammunition for Abram's users worldwide.

Additionally, Rheinmetall has fielded the DM 63 tungsten kinetic energy round for the German Bundeswehr and other NATO users of Leopard tanks. Under the joint venture, DMI will continue these efforts while working to add further improvements to the KEW family. The company will also develop and produce advanced multi-purpose ammunition, leveraging the success of Rheinmetall's DM 11 cartridge, which was recently fielded by the United States Marine Corps in Afghanistan.