DTN News - AUSTRALIAN DEFENSE NEWS: Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles Lands Major Military Truck Order In Australia Worth €1.1 Billion

DTN News - AUSTRALIAN DEFENSE NEWS: Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles Lands Major Military Truck Order In Australia Worth €1.1 Billion

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Rheinmetall Defence 

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - July 27, 2013: The Australian Defence Force has contracted with Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles GmbH (RMMV) of Germany, a joint venture company of Rheinmetall AG and MAN Truck & Bus AG, to supply it with an extensive fleet of advanced logistical vehicles. Under a far-reaching modernization programme, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) is procuring some 2500 protected and non-protected logistical vehicles from Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles Australia. The recently signed contract is worth €1.1 billion (AUD 1.58 billion).

This order reinforces RMMV’s role as one of the world’s leading makers of military wheeled vehicles. In a hard-fought contest, Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles Australia overcame rival bids from top European and American competitors thanks to a compelling proposal that met the customer’s demanding specifications in every category.

Following a meticulous selection process, the Australian military have thus opted for RMMV’s tried-and-tested, high-mobility, extremely robust family of vehicles. The new vehicles will replace the ADF’s current fleet, which is made up of equipment from a number of different manufacturers. These state-of-the-art RMMV systems will enhance the Australian military’s operational effectiveness and mobility as well as assuring improved crew survivability. In addition, having a uniform fleet will result in synergy effects with regard to spare parts, maintenance and training, resulting in substantially lower operating costs.

Under this order, which forms part of Phase 3B of Australia’s “Land 121” modernization programme, Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles Australia will be supplying trucks in a number of different weight classes in various configurations. These include medium and heavyweight recovery vehicles, heavy-duty logistical vehicles, integrated load handling systems as well as medium-sized cargo bed variants with cranes, fuel and water modules and tipper bodies.

The first vehicles of “Land 121” Phase 3B are to be delivered starting in 2016, with the contract due for completion in 2020.

RMMV is the Rheinmetall Group’s centre of excellence for logistical and tactical wheeled vehicles. Its Australian subsidiary will be in charge of managing this major procurement project. The vehicles themselves will be built at the RMMV plant in Vienna, Austria, where the order will assure a high level of capacity utilization for several years. Other tasks such as production of modules and some bodies, vehicle and C4I integration will be performed at Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles Australia and its local partner companies. 

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Rheinmetall Defence 
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*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
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DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Full-Speed Ahead For MASS - Germany, Finland And Peru All Order Rheinmetall Naval Countermeasure System

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Full-Speed Ahead For MASS - Germany, Finland And Peru All Order Rheinmetall Naval Countermeasure System

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Rheinmetall

(NSI News Source Info) DUSSELDORF, Germany - March 6, 2011: To protect their fleets from missile attacks, the navies of Peru, Finland and Germany have all ordered MASS, Rheinmetall’s "Multi Ammunition Softkill System", a state-of-the-art decoy system for protecting frigates, corvettes, minesweepers and patrol craft. In winning these three orders, MASS has once again outclassed its international rivals as well as gaining a foothold in the South American market. The three orders are worth a total of approximately €15.5 million.

As part of a comprehensive modernization of its LUPO-class frigates, the Peruvian Navy has placed an order with Rheinmetall Defence initially to equip two ships with the MASS naval countermeasure system. The contract also includes an option for equipping two more frigates of this class within the next two years. The German Navy has awarded Rheinmetall with another follow-on order for equipping its minesweepers with MASS, reflecting the great emphasis Germany places on force protection. Following immediate retrofitting in 2008 of two countermine vessels in response to an urgent operational requirement (UNIFIL), two more vessels of the same class were equipped with MASS in 2009. Under the current order, two more countermine vessels will be equipped with a MASS two-launcher configuration with integrated detection unit. The Finnish Navy, opting once again for MASS, has contracted with Rheinmetall Defence to retrofit six RAUMA-class missile boats. In 2002, Finland – the system’s pilot customer – had its Hamina-class fast attack craft outfitted with MASS technology. Since its market launch in 2002, customers around the globe have ordered no fewer than 172 launcher units.

Superior protection with MASS

Guided missiles and other projectiles pose a constant threat to civilian shipping and naval vessels alike. MASS protects ships from attacks using advanced, sensor-guided missiles on the high seas and coastal waters as well as from asymmetric, terrorist-type threats. MASS fires decoy rounds which lure incoming projectiles away from their intended target. Fully automatic, the MASS naval countermeasure system offers significant tactical, operational and logistical advantages and can be installed onboard any vessel. Moreover, it can be integrated into any command and control system or operated in standalone mode. The MASS system’s innovative, programmable omnispectral rounds assure protection in all relevant wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum (radar, infrared, laser, EO, UV). Numerous international test campaigns have demonstrated its effectiveness in compelling fashion.

MASS with integrated detection unit

Featuring an integrated detection unit, the "MASS ISS – Integrated Sensor Suite" represents an innovative departure in naval electronic warfare. Jointly developed by Rheinmetall Defence and Saab (Electronic Defence Systems), this new version of MASS comes with sensors capable of detecting both radar and laser threats.

Contact

Rheinmetall AG Corporate Sector Defence Press and Information Oliver Hoffmann Rheinmetall Platz 1 40476 Düsseldorf Germany Phone: +49 211 473-4748 Fax: +49 211 473-4157

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources

Rheinmetall

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*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News

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DTN News: KONGSBERG And Rheinmetall Sign Framework Agreement

DTN News: KONGSBERG And Rheinmetall Sign Framework Agreement

Source: DTN News / Kongsberg Gruppen

(NSI News Source Info) KONGSBERG, Norway - October 22, 2010: The scope of this agreement is to provide a framework for the co-operation between the companies for the Remote Weapon Station (RWS) product area.

Through this agreement the companies intend to not only maintain, but also to expand the co-operation as well as establish joint sales efforts in some international markets.

Kongsberg and Rheinmetall have entered into this co-operation agreement to promote the KONGSBERG PROTECTOR family of RWS' and also increase the level of integration between the two companies' product lines. The overall objective of bringing the two high technology companies together is to offer leading-edge solutions and to raise the value for our international customers.

KONGSBERG (OSE Ticker: KOG) is an international, knowledge-based group that supplies high-technology systems and solutions to customers engaged in the oil and gas industry, the merchant marine, and the defence and aerospace industries. In 2009, KONGSBERG had a turnover of NOK 13.8 billion, and the Group had 5 423 employees in more than 25 countries.

Rheinmetall AG is a globe-spanning defence technology and automotive engineering group with an international customer base. Employing a 20,000-strong global work force, the Rheinmetall Group generated sales in FY 2009 of around 3.4 billion Euro. Rheinmetall Defence's six divisions – Vehicle Systems, Weapons and Ammunition, Air Defence, Propellants, Defence Electronics and Simulation and Training – supply the world's armed forces with a comprehensive array of products and services.

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DTN News: Building On Five Years Of Success, Her Majesty's Armed Forces Extend Partnering Agreement With Rheinmetall

DTN News: Building On Five Years Of Success, Her Majesty's Armed Forces Extend Partnering Agreement With Rheinmetall Source: DTN News / Rheinmetall Defence (NSI News Source Info) DUSSELDORF, Germnay - March 6, 2010: Rheinmetall AG and Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), the UK's defence procurement organisation, have agreed to extend their successful cooperation in the field of ammunition, which began in 2005, for another five years, with an option for a further two years. The partnering agreement represents a new order volume worth minimum €150 million for the period through to 2015. The parties now signed a contract to this effect at Rheinmetall Defence's regional office in Bristol. Rheinmetall Defence thus remains the sole non-UK company with which DE&S has concluded a partnership agreement for the supply of general munitions. Over the past five years, cooperation has extended to new munitions product areas due to the evolving requirements of the British military as well as Rheinmetall’s proven track record for quality and reliability. Over the last five years Rheinmetall Defence nearly doubled the volume of general munitions supplied to the troops of Her Majesty's armed forces.

DTN News: Rheinmetall Defence And Israel Aerospace Industries To Provide ISR Services For German Armed Forces In Afghanistan

DTN News: Rheinmetall Defence And Israel Aerospace Industries To Provide ISR Services For German Armed Forces In Afghanistan *Source: DTN News / Rheinmetall Defence (NSI News Source Info) DUSSELDROF, German - October 31, 2009: Rheinmetall Defence and the German Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement (Bundesamt für Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung – BWB) signed a service provider contract today to provide the German Bundeswehr with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities through the deployment of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system. This bridges the gap prior to the "SAATEG (System zur Abbildenden Aufklärung in der Tiefe des Einsatzgebietes)" acquisition programme. Under the current multimillion-euro contract, the Bundeswehr will lease the UAV system for one year with an option for a two year-extension. This SAATEG Interim Solution programme will significantly contribute to comprehensive situational awareness within the scope of networked command and control in Northern Afghanistan, a region for which Germany is responsible, by providing wide area real-time reconnaissance and surveillance data for German ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) troops. Flight operations will commence by mid March 2010. Compared to UAV systems currently in service with the Bundeswehr, the UAV system to be deployed is capable of covering a substantially larger footprint, while its high-performance sensors can provide reconnaissance data at even severe weather conditions. Rheinmetall Defence and its partner Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will provide IAI's Heron MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) UAV system, including full in-theatre logistical and maintenance services performed by Rheinmetall Defence. Missions of the UAV-System will be performed and controlled by Bundeswehr personnel. "Following the deployment of Rheinmetall's KZO tactical UAV system by the German Army in Afghanistan earlier this year, SAATEG is set to make another important contribution to protecting our soldiers and their allies as they carry out their vital mission", declares Heinz Dresia, Member of the Executive Board of Rheinmetall Defence, adding that "Rheinmetall's responsibility for performing the complete package of service, repairs and maintenance for the SAATEG system positions us as a competent full-service supplier of logistic services in the field of aerial reconnaissance systems." Itzhak Nissan, President and CEO of IAI, said: "We are proud to provide along with Rheinmetall our operationally proven UAV systems to the German Armed Forces. Our fruitful cooperation with Rheinmetall allows for the integration of the two companies' capabilities to the benefit of both of our customers, and presents new marketing opportunities of UAVs and other airborne systems." The Heron UAV can carry a wide variety of sensors and information systems for gathering data for intelligence analysis to protect the friendly forces during operations in theatre. Depending on its mission configuration, the sensor package provided to the German Armed Forces includes a day/night electro-optical and SAR payload. By utilizing satellite communications the system covers the whole area of operations of the German ISAF contingent. With a wingspan of 16.6 meters and a takeoff weight of 1,200 kg, the Heron can reach an altitude of 30,000 feet and can loiter for over 24 hours. The Canadian, Australian and French Armed Forces are already relying on the Heron as one of their main ISR sources in Afghanistan. All logistical and maintenance services for the German Heron system will be performed by Rheinmetall Defence, which will operate a 24/7 maintenance and support centre in the theatre. About IAI / MALAT: MALAT division of IAI's Military Aircraft Group spearheads the design and manufacture of unmanned aircraft vehicles (UAVs) systems. MALAT offers a family of systems that vary in size, endurance, mission profile and onboard sensors, covering the full spectrum of operational requirements by providing micro and mini systems as well as tactical and Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) systems. MALAT's systems are in operational service with more than 40 worldwide customers deployed on four continents and have accumulated over 500.000 flight hours.

DTN News: Rheinmetall To Equip New German F125 Frigates With MLG 27 Light Naval Guns

DTN News: Rheinmetall To Equip New German F125 Frigates With MLG 27 Light Naval Guns *Source: DTN News / Rheinmetall AG

(NSI News Source Info) DUSSELDROF, Germany - October 10, 2009: Rheinmetall Defence has booked an order from the German Navy for another twelve MLG 27 light naval guns. The order is worth around €11.6 million.

Four new F125-class frigates will each be equipped with two new MLG 27 guns. Another four will be integrated into the German Navy's new combat supply ship, the Bonn. The frigates will be delivered starting in 2014.

By April 2012 – including earlier orders – Rheinmetall will have supplied the German Navy with a total of 99 light naval guns for various classes of surface combatants. Since its international market breakthrough in 2007, three foreign governments have ordered 49 of these guns, some of which are already entering service.

This state-of-the-art 27mm naval weapon system provides navies with a reliable self-defence capability in new operational scenarios such as counterterrorism, combating piracy and stopping smugglers.

The combination of a dynamic gun carriage, high-precision optics and highly advanced ammunition technology assures effective engagement of light, agile surface targets in all sorts of scenarios. The MLG 27 can be installed on practically any surface combatant without penetrating the deck. The system can be remotely operated from a command unit, and is equipped with day/night target tracking sensors which permit automatic tracking of targets as well as manual control of the system.

Rheinmetall AG Related News....for full stories click on the links below

~09/30/2009: Major UK order goes to Rheinmetall – Propellant systems worth €200 million for Her Majesty’s Armed Forces ~09/23/2009: Rheinmetall and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann hand over first serially produced Boxer vehicle ~09/08/2009: Rheinmetall Defence at DSEI 2009 in London ~09/02/2009: Oerlikon Contraves Deutschland GmbH is now Rheinmetall Soldier Electronics – a centre of excellence for advanced infantry technology ~08/27/2009: Gaining ground in the US market – Rheinmetall and ATK agree to cooperate in the propellant domain ~07/22/2009: Rheinmetall to create simulation and test environment for the Bundeswehr ~07/13/2009: Rheinmetall takes the lead in European development programme ~07/06/2009: Billion plus order for Rheinmetall – Go-ahead given for serial production of 405 Puma infantry fighting vehicles for the Bundeswehr

DTN News: Rheinmetall And KMW Hand Over First Serially Produced Boxer Vehicle

DTN News: Rheinmetall And KMW Hand Over First Serially Produced Boxer Vehicle *Source: DTN News / Defense Media (NSI News Source Info) MUNICH, Germany - September 30, 2009: The armed forces of Germany and the Netherlands have taken delivery of an optimally protected, highly mobile transport vehicle with massive useful load carrying capacity. At a ceremony in Munich, Rheinmetall Defence and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) transferred the first serially produced Boxer to the Organisation Conjointe de Cooperation en matiere d'Armement (OCCAR), which is administering the Boxer project, and Germany's Federal Agency for Defence Technology and Procurement (BWB). (Image: Rheinmetall has acquired Dutch armored vehicle company Stork PWV, a move that gives the German armor company control of Artec, the company created to develop the Boxer armored vehicle for the Dutch and German armies). The transfer took place in the presence of German defence minister Dr. Franz-Josef Jung, and Dutch defence minister Eimert van Middelkoop. The series order for the Boxer includes a total of 272 vehicles for the German Bundeswehr and 200 for the Dutch armed forces. The Dutch Army will take delivery of the Boxer from 2011 through to the end of 2016. "The Boxer project underscores the cutting edge position of the German defence industry, and not just in Europe", declares Klaus Eberhardt, Chairman of the Executive Board of Rheinmetall Defence, noting that "no other vehicle is so systematically oriented to the current and future needs of the armed forces. We thus see strong potential for additional international sales." In the words of Frank Haun, Chief Executive Officer of KMW, "the Boxer is an impressive example of European defence cooperation. The German and Dutch armed forces are getting a highly protected, highly mobile transport vehicle that's specifically designed to meet the needs of the modern military. I'm especially pleased that the defence ministers of both Germany and the Netherlands are on hand for the official transfer, which indicates the importance which both countries attach to the Boxer project." The Boxer armoured transport vehicle is a pioneering, highly mobile 8x8 wheeled vehicle. Thanks to its modular design, it can be quickly modified for a wide variety of missions, going from a medivac role, for instance, to a command and control configuration. To do this, all that is necessary is to exchange the mission modules on the vehicle chassis. When configured as a section (squad) transport vehicle, the Boxer can carry up to ten men, who benefit from excellent protection against landmines and ballistic threats: the fully armoured fighting compartment assures maximum crew survivability. Superb mobility, excellent self-defence weaponry and a heavy payload are further key features of this versatile, highly flexible transport vehicle. Rheinmetall and KMW have joined forces with other national and international partners in the ARTEC consortium to make the Boxer a reality.

DTN News: EDA Orders Unmanned Vehicle Development

DTN News: EDA Orders Unmanned Vehicle Development

*Source: DTN News / Defense Media

(NSI News Source Info) DUSSELDROF, Germany - July 21, 2009: German military vehicle specialist Rheinmetall Defence has been given the lead in a $5.6 million project to develop unmanned vehicles for the European Defense Agency. Rheinmetall will head up the project with Germany's Diehl BGT Defence, France's ECA and France's Thales Optronique also involved. The contract calls for the construction of a demonstration version of an unmanned ground craft. Trials are expected to be conducted in 2013. The device is seen as a way to protect troops taking part in hazardous operations, a release from Rheinmetall stated. "Nations taking part in international peacekeeping and peace enforcement missions are understandably eager to keep casualties as low as possible to avoid losing public support at home," Rheinmetall said. "One way of meeting this challenge is to use unmanned systems which operate autonomously and can perform a variety of missions, making sure that friendly personnel are not exposed to danger unnecessarily." The German Army's new Puma infantry fighting vehicle meets the military's requirement for high strategic and tactical mobility as well as delivering excellent crew protection and massive firepower. It enables soldiers to react immediately to emerging targets and threats, mounting a flexible response tailored to the specific situation.Compared with its international rivals, Puma offers a level of performance never before attained, especially with regard to survivability. The German Army is expected to order 405 vehicles. The contract, including training equipment and logistical support, is worth around €3 billon. The political go-ahead to start series production is expected in 2007. The German procurement authorities already placed an order at the end of 2004 for five pre-production vehicles as well as logistics and training services, including an option for series production.The Puma is based on a completely new vehicle design that reflects the requirements of today's armed forces. New missions such as peacekeeping and peacemaking require a highly mobile weapon system that is light enough for rapid strategic deployment yet tough enough to assure maximum survivability: the Puma provides a level of crew protection against mines and rocket-propelled grenades (ubiquitous in the world's crisis regions) never seen before in a comparable vehicle. The program is referred as Semi-Autonomous Unmanned Ground Vehicle System Demonstrator. Initial specifications call for a wheeled, all-terrain vehicle weighing between 660 and 880 pounds. The device would be operated remotely or autonomously though a built-in satellite-supported navigation system. It would operate for up to 24 hours and have a range of 240 miles. Additionally, planned 3-D laser radar, camera systems and ultrasonic sensors would aid the vehicle to avoid obstacles and other hindrances in its surroundings. The SAM-UGV is also seen as having the potential to carry out reconnaissance missions in areas subject to nuclear, chemical or biological contamination. "The system's suitability as a means of searching for improvised explosive devices will also be studied, responding to the acute threat these currently pose to forces deployed in global conflict zones," the Rheinmetall release said. The need for such unmanned vehicles is seen as growing for theaters such as Iraq and Afghanistan, where traditional military strategies are proving less effective. Rheinmetall said that cost pressures would make the development of a sophisticated system such as the SAM-UGV "all but impossible for a single, company-financed research and development program." But since the four companies are working together, with the European Defense Agency arranging financial backing "this project is a good example of the way the European defense industry is bundling its strengths -- one of EDA's prime objectives." News of Rheinmetall's involvement in the SAM-UGV contract came a week after the company said the German military ordered 405 Puma infantry fighting vehicles from the company's 50-50 PSM GmbH partnership with Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH and Co. KG. That deal is worth $4.3 billion.