Netherlands orders 155mm ammunition
Rheinmetall recently demonstrated 155mm ammunition in South Africa. (Photo: Rheinmetall)
Rheinmetall will provide 155mm Assegai IR illumination and smoke/obscurant rounds for delivery to the Netherlands by mid-2023, under a new deal with Dutch procurement agency DMO.
This ammunition — demonstrated recently to DMO officials via video link from the Alkantpan proving ground in South Africa — will complement high-explosive shells already fielded by the Dutch military.
Rheinmetall did not disclose the value of the deal but stated on 21 October that it is in the ‘two-digit million-euro range’.
The DMO contract forms part of a multi-year ammunition framework contract between the Netherlands Armed Forces and Rheinmetall.
When fired from the 155mm L52 howitzer with modular propelling charges, the illumination and smoke/obscurant projectiles can reach a range of 40km. Using the special top charge increases the range by 15%, Rheinmetall calculates.
Besides the smoke/obscurant and IR illumination shells, Rheinmetall also presented its new RH141 projectile at Alkantpan.
‘Newly engineered, this insensitive high explosive round is designed to be fired from the L60 howitzer, which is now under development,’ the company stated.
More from Land Warfare
-
Australia invests $1.4 billion in additional AMRAAM buy
Some of the missiles ordered can be used on the F/A-18F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler and the F35-A Lightning.
-
Armies turn to armour and self-defence as support vehicles near the frontline
Combat losses of support and logistics vehicles in recent conflicts have highlighted the need for greater protection and even self-defence capabilities. What options are available to turn a basic truck into a survivor on the battlefield?
-
German Army to receive third-generation Dingo protected patrol vehicles this year
More than 1,200 Dingo 1 and Dingo 2 models have been built and deployed by some 10 countries. The latest Dingo 3 pulls through from user inputs and, like earlier versions, is also based on a UNIMOG chassis.
-
Hungary’s Gamma Technical expands vehicle range
The company’s new variants of 4×6 and 6×6 vehicles are designed to be modular for a greater variety of missions and also flexibility at a subsystem level, for example transmission and engine.
-
US Army seeks nearly $900 million to accelerate development and acquisition of CUAS capabilities
The branch plans to speed up the building and procurement of kinetic and non-kinetic systems for fixed, semi-fixed and on-the-move operations.
-
Large 10×10 vehicles go in search of a role
Wheeled vehicles ranging in size from 4×4 to 8×8 provide high-speed at a good level of mobility compared to tracked. However, tracked can be larger and have a higher level of mobility in marginal terrain with a smaller turning circle. What are the possibilities for a 10×10?