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Rheinmetall has received an order for illumination and smoke/obscurant shells from the DMO, the Netherlands’ procurement agency.
Rheinmetall confirmed that the company has received an order for illumination and smoke/obscurant shells from the Dutch procurement agency, with delivery of the munitions expected in mid-2023.
According to Rheinmetall, the contract is “worth a figure in the two-digit million-euro range”, and is part of a multi-year ammunition agreement between the prime and the Dutch defence forces.
The contract will oversee the delivery of 155mm illumination rounds including the M1808 Base Bleed and M1809 Boat Tails rounds, as well as the RH1901 Base Bleed and RH1902 smoke rounds.
The 155mm illumination and smoke rounds were successfully qualified over recent months, with the 155mm Assegai IR illumination helping to brighten the battlefield, while the smoke rounds are able to reach a range of 40 kilometres if fired from a 155mm L52 Howitzer.
"Besides the smoke/obscurant and infrared 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," a company release read.
Closer to home, Rheinmetall this week submitted its BAFO for the LAND 400 Phase 3 program.
The defence prime has upgraded its bid to supply the Australian Army with its next-generation Lynx IFVs, including a “special offer” in its final proposal for the $18.1-$27.1 billion LAND 400 Phase 3 contract.
Rheinmetall Defence Australia (RDA) has submitted its Lynx Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) ‘best and final offer’ (BAFO) to the Department of Defence — the last deliverable of the two-year Risk Management Activity (RMA) in the final phase of the LAND 400 Phase 3 tender process.
The company’s offer — which is competing against Hanwha Defense Australia’s Redback IFV to replace the Australian Army’s M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier — includes a ‘special project’, yet to be unveiled to the market.
According to RDA managing director Gary Stewart the undisclosed project would “pique the interest” of both the Australian Defence Force and the international export market.
[Related: Rheinmetall submits BAFO for LAND 400 bid]
