Rheinmetall Denel Munition; the South African subsidiary of Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH, the German defence and technology giant, will supply a NATO country with 155mm ammunition.
Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM) – is a partnership between the German parent and South African state-owned Denel.
A long-time NATO customer awarded the South African subsidiary Rheinmetall Denel Munition a framework contract for the supply of 155mm ammunition of the proven Assegai product line.
The order value is in the mid three-digit million EUR range. The framework agreement was concluded in December and has a term of five years.
This new order signifies the growing demand for RDM’s ammunition from NATO and non-NATO forces.
The five years framework contract provides for the delivery of 155mm M2005 V-LAP (Velocity Enhanced Long Range Artillery Projectile) projectiles, M92 modular charges and various fuzes.
The 155mm M2005 V-LAP projectile features a high fragmentation effect as well as extended range through rocket and base bleed technology. The rocket assist V-LAP projectile together with the Assegai M92 tactical charges features barrel erosion and muzzle signature reducer properties. It is designed according to the NATO Joint Ballistics Memorandum of Under¬standing (JBMoU) requirements and qualified according to STANAG guidelines. The ammunition is already deployed in several NATO countries.
“We are proud to support our long-time NATO partner with Rheinmetall‘s world leading long range artillery suite. Framework agreements provide long-term ammunition supply assurance and a flexible system for procuring ammunition over the course of a year”, stated Jan-Patrick Helmsen, CEO of Rheinmetall Denel Munition. “The rocket assist V-lap together with the tactical assegai charges M92 with barrel wearer reducer and muzzle flash reducer will support both the soldiers in the battlefield and the logistics and maintenance troops.”
The M2005 HE V-LAP projectile is at the forefront of modern artillery technology and provides an extended range interdiction capability against soft targets and soft skinned vehicles as well as the disruption of logistical supply lines beyond the close battlefield. The M2005 projectile can be used with suitable NATO standard fuzes and JBMoU compatible modular charge systems and can be fired from any compatible 155mm weapon system. The base drag reduction and rocket assistance extend the range performance of Assegai with no special operational and logistical requirements.
RDM signed a ten-year agreement with Northrop Grumman to develop precision and long-range ammunition technology for future artillery operations.
RDM continues to enjoy widespread export success for it’s ammunition from customers both in NATO, Asia, and Africa.
Three years ago, RDM secured a contract for 40 mm grenade and 76 mm gun ammunition from an international client.
In 2021, the Hungarian Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Rheinmetall to supply an extensive package of ammunition worth several hundred million euros. The order encompasses ammunition for infantry fighting vehicles, main battle tanks, artillery, and decoy systems. Delivery is starting in 2023 and is to be complete by 2031.
In August 2022, Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM) supplied 155mm ammunition from the Assegai product line to a NATO customer.
Back in 2019, Rheinmetall succeeded in setting a new maximum range record in South Africa with the Assegai family and other Group products like the new Topcharge.
Both companies will focus on developing an enhanced range 155 mm artillery round fitted with an integrated M1156 precision guidance kit (PGK), as well as on developing a new 155 mm projectile with an improved integrated propulsion system.
Jointly owned by Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH (51%) of Germany and Denel (Pty) Ltd, Rheinmetall Denel Munition produces a wide variety of ammunition such as 155 mm artillery ammunition, 60, 81 and 120 mm mortars, 40 mm grenades and 76/62 mm Naval Rounds, aircraft bombs and mine breaching systems. Rheinmetall Denel Munition also builds ammunition filling plants for export and manufactures missile subsystems.
