30mm Airburst Ammunition for the U.S. Navy

Rheinmetall begins the development of a new medium-caliber ammunition for the U.S. Navy. A corresponding Other Transaction Agreement contract was awarded to the U.S.-based subsidiary American Rheinmetall Munitions, Inc. located in Stafford, Virginia. The contract is worth 14.3 million USD (13.5 million EUR) and includes the prototype development of a cost-effective ammunition that increases the effectiveness of currently deployed and future weapon systems of the U.S. Navy against air and ground targets.

The objective of the work on the prototype system is the initial capability of the new Airburst ammunition 30mm x 173 MK 340 MOD 0 Kinetic Energy Electronically Timed (KEET). This new MK 340 KEET is based on the NATO-qualified Rheinmetall 30mm x 173 Kinetic Energy Timed Fuze (KETF) cartridge, currently used by the armed forces of Australia, Germany, and Hungary. The system offers a significantly higher effect with a much lower ammunition approach due to its high first hit probability.

"We are pleased to be able to deliver our next-generation ammunition solutions to the U.S. Navy for the first time. This contract is further proof of American Rheinmetall's ability to provide innovative technologies to the U.S. armed forces," said John Somich, Managing Director of American Rheinmetall Munitions.

American Rheinmetall Munition is currently expanding its role as a significant supplier of innovative next-generation weapons and ammunition technologies in the United States. The company relies on the portfolio of top-class ammunition and defense products offered by Rheinmetall and its global subsidiaries. American Rheinmetall Munition is currently producing groundbreaking solutions such as the 40mm Airburst Fuze for the U.S. Army and the PGU-48/B Frangible Armor Piercing cartridge for the F35A Joint Strike Fighter of the U.S. Air Force. The company has also been producing and supplying high-performance training and operational ammunition to U.S. military forces and law enforcement agencies for several decades.

American Rheinmetall Munition is part of the American Rheinmetall family. Rheinmetall's defense companies active in the U.S. include American Rheinmetall Systems in Biddeford, Maine, American Rheinmetall Vehicles in Sterling Heights, Michigan, and the U.S. parent company American Rheinmetall Defense in Reston, Virginia.

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