Rheinmetall has signed two contracts with the German Armed Forces to produce and supply service and training ammunition for the force’s automatic grenade launchers.
Under the first order, the arms manufacturer will supply “tens of thousands” of programmable 40mm x 53 Airburst Munition (ABM) DM131 service cartridges, all worth approximately 23 million euros ($25 million).
Around 200,000 rounds of 40mm x 53 Üb DM158 practice ammunition will be delivered through the second deal. The tranche is estimated to cost around 7.2 million euros ($7.8 million).
Delivery is set to be completed by 2024.
The 40mm x 53 ammunition has NATO-qualified capabilities and can be fired from any standard automatic launcher of its caliber. Its programmability allows its operators to detonate it mid-air.
Partners in Modernization
The German Armed Forces have established many collaborations with Rheinmetall in its recent push for modernization.
In January, the company signed a 350-million euro ($381 million) deal with Berlin to produce KETF DM21 and KE DM33 medium-caliber ammunition for the Puma infantry fighting vehicle.
It was also tasked to deliver around 470,000 decoy flares for the German Air Force’s aircraft.