The South African DoD has acquired the 20,000 rounds of the Rheinmetall 40mm medium velocity ammunition. The company has announced the deal on 13 November.
The procurement comprised high explosive ammunition, high explosive dual-purpose ammunition, practice ammunition, practice tracer ammunition, red phosphorous smoke rounds and orange target marker ammunition.
The versatile 40mm ammunition pallet closes the gap between hand grenades and mortars and serves as a veritable combat multiplier for infantry and other dismounted troops according to Rheinmetall.
It has a maximum range of 800 metres, exceeding conventional extended range low-velocity variants by up to 375 metres while delivering high accuracy.
The ammunition was acquired under the Project Kamogelo that was officially completed in October 2020.
The South African Army initiated the project in 2016 with the aim of fielding a new grenade launcher and family of 40mm ammunition.
rmscor, the nation’s arms procurement agency, approved the purchase plan in February 2018, subsequently overseeing testing and evaluation of the Milkor Y4 multi-shot weapon. It involved firing Rheinmetall Denel Munition’s less-lethal, low-velocity and medium-velocity ammunition.