# RDM bags 40 mm medium velocity ammunition contract with SANDF

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2020/11/rdm-bags-40-mm-medium-velocity-ammunition-contract-with-sandf/
- Published: 2020-11-24T01:13:00+01:00
- Author: Patrick Kenyette

Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM) has been awarded a contract to supply the South
African National Defence Force (SANDF) with new 40 mm medium velocity ammunition
for the newly purchased Y4 grenade launchers from Milkor, as part of Project Kamogelo.

This is coming on the heels of another contract [signed last month to supply 60mm conventional mortars](https://www.military.africa/2020/11/rdm-bags-40-mm-medium-velocity-ammunition-contract-with-sandf/military.africa/2020/11/south-african-army-orders-60-mm-mortar-from-rheinmetall)
to the South African Army.

According to RDM, the project was completed and handed over in October 2020, with
representatives of Armscor, Department of Defence – Defence Materiel Division, South
African Army, Rheinmetall Denel Munition and Milkor, including South African Army
Chief, Lieutenant General Lawrence Khulekani Mbatha, and Kamogelo Project Officer
Lieutenant Colonel Gladwin Louw in attendance.

“What makes Project Kamogelo so special is not only the introduction of a new 40
mm medium-velocity (MV) weapon system: it also marks the first successful Expedited
Armament Acquisition Process (EAAP) project in response to an urgent operational
requirement of the South African Army,” RDM said.

“The Defence Review of 2015 demands of us that we maintain a very professional defence
force that is capable of executing its constitutional mandate, which is to protect
the integrity of our country, safeguard its sovereignty, to ensure that we are guarantor
to the safety of our people”, said Mbatha.

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The South African Army procured more than 20 000 rounds of medium-velocity ammunition,
including high explosive ammunition, high explosive dual-purpose ammunition, practice
ammunition, practice tracer ammunition, red phosphorous smoke rounds and orange 
target marker ammunition.

Rheinmetall Denel Munition’s medium-velocity ammunition has a maximum range of 800
metres, exceeding conventional extended range low-velocity (LV) variants by up to
375 metres while delivering what it says is unparalleled accuracy. The company’s
ammunition suite currently encompasses nine different MV variants, six of which 
formed part of this procurement package.

“We’re proud to be able to offer our new medium-velocity 40mm family to our home
market, the SANDF. With this solution we offer the soldier a unique product solution:
a quick-firing multiple grenade launcher with a standoff range in excess of 800 
metres”, said Jan-Patrick Helmsen, CEO of Rheinmetall Denel Munition.

Rheinmetall Denel Munition’s Medium Velocity range comprises of the following rounds:
•
The MV Practice round is used as a low cost training round with the same ballistic
properties as the war shot round.• The MV Practice Tracer round is used as a training
round with the same ballistic properties as the war shot round and enabling the 
soldier to visually track his trajectory.• The Target Marker Orange Smoke round 
is used for signal, communication and target marking purposes. It can also be used
to indicate wind direction and speed for parachutists and helicopters.• Red, Green
and White Coloured Smoke Rounds are also available for signal and communication 
purposes.• The Smoke Bursting Red Phosphorous Round is a versatile round producing
an effective instantaneous infra-red smoke screen which masks the movement of own
forces from direct observation and fire. Additionally, the infra-red characteristic
of the smoke can be used as target marker in low light conditions.• The HE Round
produces a high level of fragmentation and is effectively used against personnel
and light armoured vehicles.• The HEDP Round is a dual purpose round producing a
high level of fragmentation and shrapnel for anti-personnel purposes and combined
with a shaped charge enabling a penetration capability in excess of 50mm RHA steel
as well as fortified bunkers.

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The Self Destruct Fuse function for the Smoke Bursting Red Phosphorous, HE and HEDP
rounds is currently nearing development completion. This function will eliminate
the danger of unexploded ordnance on the battlefield ensuring safety of own forces,
RDM said. An Airburst function is also currently under development enhancing the
rounds fragmentation capability.

Rheinmetall Denel Munition’s Low Velocity suite comprises the same variants as the
Medium Velocity range. The current Rheinmetall Denel Munition HV suite comprises
Practice, Practice Tracer, Target Practice with Flash Bang function, HE and HE Self
Destruct, HEDP and HEDP Self Destruct rounds.

The Rheinmetall Group also offers 40×53 mm high velocity (HV) ammunition, which 
reaches a velocity of 240 m/s and has a maximum effective range of 2 200 metres.
The Group supplies a wide assortment of different cartridges, including newly developed
HE and HEDP airburst ammunition programmed by an infrared programming unit. The 
airburst function also makes this type of ammunition suitable for engaging small
unmanned aerial systems. Among other things, it is used in the Bundeswehr’s Qualified
Air Defence project.

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