An important new order from an Arab customer underscores Rheinmetall’s role as a leading international supplier of army technology products.

Rheinmetall will be supplying vital subsystems and services for state-of-the-art main battle tanks and artillery systems. The total order is worth around €475 million.

Under the contract, delivery will take place progressively during the 2015-2018 timeframe.

Specifically, Rheinmetall will be supplying complete L55-type tank guns for over sixty Leopard 2A7 main battle tanks, together with fire control electronics and electro-optical sensors for the medium-caliber weapon station.

In addition, Rheinmetall will manufacture the chassis and L52 main armament for over twenty PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers, as well as supplying a complete driver training vehicle.

The Düsseldorf-based Rheinmetall Group will also be responsible for a spare parts package and special tools as well as training and documentation services.

The order also encompasses 120mm ammunition for the Leopard and 155mm ammunition for the PzH 2000 in multiple variants, together with MTLS modular propelling charges for the artillery system.

Rheinmetall has over forty years’ experience in developing and manufacturing armored fighting vehicles. The Leopard 2 continues to set the global standard for modern main battle tanks. In service with the armies of 18 nations, over 3,600 now exist. Rheinmetall played a decisive part in developing and producing the Leopard 2. Of the 2,125 A4 versions of the Leopard 2 built, Rheinmetall completely manufactured 977 of these systems in Kiel on behalf of the armed forces of Germany and the Netherlands.

By contributing a number of crucial components, Rheinmetall has a major technological stake in the overall Leopard system. For example, Rheinmetall is responsible for the 120mm smoothbore gun, still considered to be most effective tank main armament anywhere. Produced under license, this cutting edge weapon is also integrated into America’s M1 Abrams as well as a number of other main battle tanks.

Moreover, both the Leopard and PzH 2000 benefit tremendously from Rheinmetall’s unsurpassed expertise in the field of large-caliber ammunition. In both of these fighting vehicles, the perfectly harmonized combination of main armament and ammunition attests to the company’s unique competence in weapons and munitions as well as systems engineering.

Rheinmetall’s technological dominance also extends to the world of combat support vehicles: closely based on the Leopard and developed by Rheinmetall, the Büffel/Buffalo 3 armored recovery vehicle forms a veritable “Main Battle Tank System” when teamed with the Leopard 2. Likewise based on the Leopard 2 chassis, Rheinmetall’s highly specialized Kodiak armored engineering vehicle impressively underscores the company’s system capabilities and competence, which extend far beyond the classic main battle tank.

In the field of C4I and fire control technology, Rheinmetall occupies a unique position in the global marketplace. Adapted to meet individual customer requirements, the company supplies individual solutions that can be integrated into higher-echelon command and control systems.