Germany expands Rheinmetall tank munitions agreement
Rheinmetall has a received a contract for 120mm tank rounds for use on Leopard MBTs. (Photo: US Army/US DoD)
The German armed forces has expanded its framework agreement with Rheinmetall for tank ammunition, reflecting the military's commitment to rebuilding capabilities.
The order includes ammunition for both German and Ukrainian armed forces.
Under an agreement just announced, the German Army has expanded a deal with Rheinmetall to provide tank munition to a value of €4 billion ($4.4 billion) and a first call-off of ammunition worth €309 million ($345 million) came immediately after the contract was signed.
The agreement could see Germany buy several hundred thousand rounds of 120mm x 570 calibre service and practice ammunition, the type fired, for example, by the Leopard 2 main battle tank (MBT).
Related Articles
How Ukraine Leopard tank breakthrough opens new offensive options for Kyiv
Rheinmetall chalks up more munitions and air defence contracts
Rheinmetall nets multi-million-euro ammunition order
The scope of the deal includes multipurpose tank ammunition with a non-programmable fuse and another variant that can be programmed for three different ignition modes: detonation on impact with and without time delay, and a timed airburst function.
The order also encompasses various types of practice ammunition featuring reduced range and lower cost, but which otherwise display comparable ballistic characteristics.
The framework agreement and contract are designed to secure a steady long-term supply of ammunition, which in turn enables better planning of the production process and optimum utilisation of existing capacity.
The company said: ‘[The contract] reflects the German military’s commitment to rebuilding its capabilities and increasing its ammunition stocks due to the new security situation. The framework agreement also encompasses a significant amount of tank ammunition for the Ukrainian armed forces’.
Leopard MBTs have been donated to Ukraine by European countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and Canada in an effort to repel Russian forces which invaded Ukraine in 2022.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![BAE Systems to continue work on active protection system for US Army]()
BAE Systems to continue work on active protection system for US Army
BAE Systems Multi-Class Soft Kill System (MCSKS) countermeasure system has been designed to provide protection without the need for kinetic effort and will reduce the logistic chain required for protection.
-
![Lockheed Martin will complete first PrSM contract this year]()
Lockheed Martin will complete first PrSM contract this year
Lockheed Martin has received four production contracts for its Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) for the US Army which add to the types of missiles used by M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and similar weapons.
-
![First upgraded Turkish Leopard with APS to be delivered this year]()
First upgraded Turkish Leopard with APS to be delivered this year
Turkey has experienced losses of tanks in Syria including Leopards to anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs). A new active protection system (APS) will reduce the likelihood of such attacks being effective.
