Rheinmetall acquires drone manufacturer EMT

Strategic positioning through an acquisition: As part of its digitalization strategy, the Düsseldorf-based Rheinmetall Group is acquiring the activities of the renowned drone manufacturer EMT. A corresponding agreement has now been signed by both sides. Based in Penzberg, Bavaria, the EMT Ingenieurgesellschaft Dipl.-Ing. Hartmut Euer mbH is engaged in the development, production, and maintenance of unarmed, tactical unmanned aerial systems for reconnaissance. The main EMT customer is the German Armed Forces, which is currently introducing the newly developed reconnaissance system LUNA NG. LUNA NG is a key element in networked communication and reconnaissance (C4ISTAR) and the core of tactical data transmission.

The acquisition, which is structured as an asset deal, is expected to take effect at the turn of 2021/22 and is subject to the usual approval processes as well as the approval of antitrust authorities. The contracting parties have agreed to keep the purchase price confidential.

The unmanned reconnaissance system LUNA NG provides the German Armed Forces with a key capability and is considered an important building block in the digitalization of the armed forces. The system serves as the basis for new applications and developments such as Manned-Unmanned Teaming. In addition, AI capabilities and applications (e.g. for automated data evaluation) can be further expanded, tested, and integrated directly.

For the military customer, Rheinmetall's agreed acquisition now offers a high level of security and reliability, especially regarding the long-term support, maintenance, and further development of this powerful system, as well as service for other unmanned aerial systems in use by the armed forces. With the LUNA family, Rheinmetall provides its international customers with the capability to assess the military situation optimally during missions and to create a high level of protection for the forces on the ground based on this information.

Strategic orientation: Complete provider for the armed forces - Driving force of digitalization
This transaction also reflects the strategic approach of the Rheinmetall Group to expand its position as a system provider for the armed forces along military requirements and to complete its portfolio accordingly. At the same time, important defense technological competencies in Germany are being preserved.

As a driving force of digitalization of the armed forces, Rheinmetall strengthens its position in the military business with this step. By combining its own capabilities with those of EMT, Rheinmetall expands its technological responsibility for crucial elements of the networked, digital communication and reconnaissance of the armed forces.

Information gained and distributed through unmanned aerial systems significantly contribute to the decision-making process at a strategic and tactical level for military users, in synergy with existing Rheinmetall systems of the digital battlefield.

Preservation of locations - Integration into corporate structure Rheinmetall intends to fully take over the highly developed capabilities and competencies of EMT. The Group plans to maintain the four locations of the drone specialist in Bavaria and Schleswig-Holstein and integrate them into the corporate structure with existing personnel.

For this purpose, the activities of EMT will be located at the subsidiary Rheinmetall Technical Publications in Bremen in the future. As an approved aviation technical company, Rheinmetall Technical Publications has been acting as the system support company for the Small Reconnaissance UAV Target Location (KZO) for over ten years, ensuring the system's operational readiness and fulfillment of its specified services.

EMT: A leading manufacturer of unmanned aerial systems in Germany

Unmanned aerial systems from EMT are designed with various payloads for short and medium ranges (up to 100 km). The best-known products are the short-range drone ALADIN as well as the - also unarmed - tactical reconnaissance system LUNA, which the German Armed Forces have been using for air surveillance in Kosovo, Macedonia, and Afghanistan since 2000, and also in Mali since 2016. The more powerful successor system LUNA NG is currently being introduced by the German Armed Forces, replacing the Small Reconnaissance UAV Target Location (KZO) developed by Rheinmetall in the nineties.

EMT offers solutions for unmanned aerial systems for military, civilian, and law enforcement applications with its product range. The corresponding analysis and flight control software is available for each unmanned aerial system, up to custom-made peripherals for various scenarios of reconnaissance, rescue, and object and infrastructure security.

EMT on the Internet

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