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The companies have teamed up to offer support services to combat vehicles deployed by NATO forces in eastern Europe.
Rheinmetall and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) have established a joint venture in Lithuania, aimed at supporting the provision of logistical support for combat vehicles operated by Lithuanian armed forces and other NATO nations deployed in the Baltic States.
According to the companies, the joint venture — referred to as Lithuania Defense Services — would leverage synergy effects and promote multinational interoperability between the armed forces and defence sectors of NATO member states.
Each firm holds a 50 per cent stake in the joint venture, set to be led by Sebastian Dietz who has been named managing director.
The services are expected to be conducted from a maintenance and logistics centre in Jonava, built on a 12,000-square-metre site.
The joint venture’s responsibilities include supporting the “Vilkas”, Lithuania’s variant of the multipurpose Boxer wheeled armoured vehicle.
Combat vehicles deployed during Enhanced Forward Presence rotations by NATO forces would also be supported, with platforms including the Puma infantry fighting vehicle, the Bergepanzer 3 Büffel/Buffalo armoured recovery vehicle, versions of the Leopard 2 main battle tank, and the PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer.
The joint venture is tipped to deliver shorter reaction times and improved supply chains.
This latest collaboration follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Rheinmetall Canada and Elbit Systems as part of a bid for Canada’s $100 million (AU$109 million) to $249 million (AU$272 million) Joint Fire Modernisation (JFM) project.
The JFM project aims to deliver a near real-time sharing of tactical, operational and strategic fires and effects information via a digital network capable of enabling instantaneous sharing of the Common Operating Picture (COP).
This includes targets, friendly locations and command and control information.
Rheinmetall Canada has offered to leverage its local presence and its experiences developing the Canadian Integrated Soldier System (ISS) project.
Meanwhile, Elbit Systems UK is set to draw from its work on the British Dismounted Joint Fires Integrators (D-JFI) program, as well as its contribution to Canada’s Airspace Coordination Centre Modernization (ASCCM) project.
[Related: Elbit Systems, Rheinmetall team up for Canadian defence project]
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