• Land Warfare

  Switzerland selects AGM 155mm artillery system

  11th November 2024

  The Swiss Army has selected the KNDS 155mm/52 Artillery Gun Module on the Piranha IV (10x10) to replace its aging M109 howitzers.

• Defence Notes

  UK begins process on new industrial strategy

  2nd December 2024

  The first stage of developing a new UK Defence Industrial Strategy has highlighted failings in current structures with solutions expected to be proposed in next year’s full strategy.

• Naval Warfare

  MBDA and Safran unveil the latest versions of the SIMBAD-RC and NGDS launchers

  25th October 2024

  With navies facing the growing threats of swarms of UAVs and fast attack craft/USVs, the two French companies have been developing reloadable-at-sea systems capable of firing multiple ammunitions.

• Land Warfare

  European Common Armoured Vehicle System picks up speed

  16th August 2024

  The Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) programme is replacing vehicle types for three countries with Germany also considering it.

• Land Warfare

  Rheinmetall looks to strengthen position in US as it bids for $60 billion in contracts

  15th August 2024

  The US has major vehicle contracts looming, a challenge for the small number of large companies, but Douglas Bush, assistant secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology has identified Rheinmetall America as potential new player.

• Naval Warfare

  Thales secures new order from Saudi Arabia for CAPTAS family of sonars

  8th October 2024

  Riyadh has placed an order for five CAPTAS-1 to equip the Avante 2200 corvettes built by Navantia. The French company has also been discussing the supply of the CAPTAS-4 Compact for the future FREMM-EVOs of the Italian Navy.

• Land Warfare

  Challenger 3 programme promises capability upgrade as first delivery milestone approaches

  23rd August 2024

  The British Army’s Challenger 3 main battle tank (MBT) will replace existing Challenger 2s with a smaller but more capable fleet of vehicles with improved protection and notably a 120mm L55A1 smoothbore gun firing an Enhanced Kinetic Energy round. The programme is advancing rapidly with several hurdles cleared in the past year.

• Land Warfare

  First locally built KF41 Lynx IFV handed over to Hungary

  26th July 2024

  The KF41 procurement is part of Hungary’s Zrínyi 2026 development plan and is one of several efforts to procure modern, NATO-standard platforms that will supersede legacy equipment received from the Soviet Union by 2026.

• Land Warfare

  Swiss places order for 81mm mortar ammunition

  29th July 2024

  The multi-million euro order has been scheduled to be completed by 2025 and will feature additional services as part of the product launch.

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2024 preview: Vehicles to take centre stage as competitions heat up

  3rd October 2024

  The Association of the US Army’s flagship conference and exhibition, the largest defence trade show in the US, returns on 14 October presenting one of the few chances for companies to publicly put their platforms to an audience of US decision-makers. Shephard takes a look at what’s in store for 2024.

• Land Warfare

  Skyranger anti-aircraft turret to use Spexer sensors

  31st July 2024

  The Spexer 200M sensor is the latest option to be offered on Rheinmetall's anti-aircraft defence solution.

• Land Warfare

  Further information revealed on Swiss 81mm mortar programme

  31st July 2024

  Rheinmetall’s recent contract award to supply the Swiss Army with 81mm mortar cargo ammunition and MX2-KM 81mm mortar weapons has seen the force adopt a systems approach to its new weapon.

• Land Warfare

  Australian Army readies itself for influx of heavy metal

  5th September 2024

  The Australian Army has been restructuring its armoured capabilities, consolidating heavy armoured vehicles such as the M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams and AS21 Redback IFVs in Townsville, while also advancing key defence projects.

• Land Warfare

  Elbit Systems looks to enhance automation for Israeli artillery systems

  26th July 2024

  Automation efforts on the Roem and Sigma howitzers will maintain a ‘man in a loop’ configuration as the Israeli company focuses on the export market.

• Training

  Rheinmetall receives rocket order from German armed forces for Tiger helicopters

  17th July 2024

  The Tiger attack helicopter was developed for the French and German armies, prior to also being procured by Spain and Australia, with a total of 185 ordered. Germany, however, has planned to retire its 55-strong fleet.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Fuchs 2 Local Assembly

  The Fuchs 2 will replace a variety of legacy APCs currently in service with the Algerian Army including the Panhard M3 VTT, the BTR-60 and ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Korsak Reconnaissance Vehicle [Germany]

  Programme Background According to the BAAINBw, the Korsak must at a minimum meet these criteria: - Platform: Piranha V 6×6 with improved off-road capability and amphibious ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  6x6 APC [Germany]

  Programme Background Bidders and Suppliers As no programme has been officially announced, all bidders and suppliers are speculative at this time. Patria 6x6 Common Armoured ...

• Main battle tanks

  Skyranger 35 (Leopard 1) [Ukraine]

  Programme Background Rheinmetall previously provided Ukraine with Skyranger 35s; however, these were mounted on truck chassis. The logic behind providing Ukraine with Skyranger 35 on ...

• Loitering munitions

  FV-014 [Germany]

  Background Testing Models Between April 2023 and April 2025, the German Army acquired various loitering munitions further to assess their suitability for the German Armed Forces. A spokesperson ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  KF41 Lynx [Ukraine]

  Programme Background Following the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, Ukraine has sought to acquire a range of different Western platforms to replace its older Soviet ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  KF41 Lynx (Ukraine Aid) [Germany]

  Programme Background Ukraine first expressed an interest in acquiring the KF41 Lynx in 2023.  This was followed by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ...

• Main battle tanks

  Leopard 2A4 [Czech Republic]

  Programme Background  The Czech Republic currently operates a small fleet of T-72s, which, while undergoing upgrades and life extension programmes, are increasingly obsolete. In October ...

• Loitering munitions

  Virtus [Germany]

  Background Testing Models Between April 2023 and April 2025, the German Army acquired various loitering munitions to further assess their suitability for the German Armed Forces. A ...

• Loitering munitions

  HX-2 [Germany]

  Background Testing Models Between April 2023 and April 2025, the German Army acquired various loitering munitions to further assess their suitability for the German Armed Forces. A spokesperson ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Ermine (Ukraine Aid) [Netherlands]

  Programme Background Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Western governments have sought to provide as much assistance as possible to the Ukrainian ...

• Medium UGVs

  Mission Master [Norway]

  Programme Background Developed by Rheinmetall Canada in 2021, the Mission Master XT is designed to tackle ice and snow, as well as sandy, rocky and ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Land 400 Phase 2 - Boxer CRV [Australia]

  Programme Background History The Land 400 Phase 2 programme will procure a replacement for the ASLAV, a derivative of the General Dynamics Land Systems Light Armoured Vehicle ...

• Main battle tanks

  KF51 Panther EVO [Hungary]

  Programme Background Hungary is currently undergoing a significant investment in its armed forces. As part of this effort, it has established a strong relationship with Rheinmetall, ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Army Armoured Combat System (A2CS) [Italy]

  Programme Background The Italian Army has identified a requirement for new tracked IFVs to equip its armoured and mechanised brigades. These new vehicles will replace ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Fuchs 2

  Rheinmetall developed the Fuchs 2 6x6 between 2001 and 2005 with the international market in mind. Based on the Fuchs 1, the new vehicle has ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Fuchs 1

  Spanning now 8 variants, the Fuchs 1 is the German Army's longstanding wheeled armoured personnel carrier. The army received 1,125 Fuchs, with most delivered between 1979-86. ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Survivor R

  The Survivor R 4x4, unveiled at Eurosatory in June 2014, was jointly developed by Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles and Achleitner. Based on a comprehensively militarised ...

• Land: RWS

  Fieldranger Dual

  The Fieldranger Dual is one of the larger systems in the Rheinmetall Fieldranger series of RWS. Designed to carry two weapons simultaneously, the Fieldranger Dual ...

• Land: Integrated Defensive Systems

  AVePS

  The AVePS (Active Vehicle Protection System) has been designed for the protection of armoured vehicles against shoulder-fired antitank rockets and guided missiles. Approaching projectiles are ...

• Land: RWS

  RLS 609

  The RLS 609 is a family of RWS that has been designed by Rheinmetall Defence and Kongsberg Protech Systems.  The RWS include the 609 L ...

• Military vehicle engines

  MTU 6V 199

  The MTU 6V 199 is a six cylinder turbocharged diesel engine, designed to power medium military vehicles. The engine is available in a TE20 and ...

• Land: manned turrets

  E8

  The E8 is a manned turret operated by a crew of one that is designed for APCs and IFVs. It is able to combat ground ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  Fixed Wing Flight Simulators

  Rheinmetall has developed fixed-wing simulators for the Typhoon, MiG-29, Tornado, A320 and A400M. Rheinmetall is responsible for full mission simulators and cockpit procedure trainers for ...

• Main battle tanks

  KF51 Panther

  Rheinmetall unveiled the KF51 Panther at Eurosatory 2022. The MBT uses Leopard 2 components in its bare chassis but with a brand new turret. Its main armament is the ...

• Land: battle management systems

  Rheinmetall C2 Software

  Rheinmetall C2 Software support the air defence decision making process by filtering, correlating and processing data from all sensors, providing the operator with one comprehensive ...

• Unguided Tank Ammunition

  DM98

  The 120mm x 570 target practice-tracer (TP-T) round is a high-explosive (HE) training munition produced by Rheinmetall. It can be fired from any new or ...

• Land: RWS

  Nanuk Russian

  Rheinmetall Canada's Nanuk RWS family includes this variant for non-NATO weapons, which combines full stabilisation, long-range day/night all-weather sights and a versatile weapon cradle that ...

• Land: RWS

  Qimek Russian

  Rheinmetall's Qimek single-weapon RWS family includes a variant for non-NATO weapons, which combines full stabilisation, long-range day/night all-weather sights and a versatile weapon cradle for ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Ermine Quad

  The Ermine Quad is a 4x4 manufactured by Rheinmetall as part of the Ermine family. It is designed for rapid patrol duties as well as hit ...