Start of the state-of-the-art air defense system close and very close range protection

The Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology and Use of the Bundeswehr (BAAINBw) and the Association for Close and Very Close Area Defense (ARGE NNbS) signed the development contract for the Close and Very Close Range Air Defense System (LVS NNbS) today, on January 25, 2024. The ARGE NNbS, founded in 2021, includes the companies Rheinmetall Electronics GmbH (Bremen), Diehl Defence GmbH & Co. KG (Überlingen), and Hensoldt Sensors GmbH (Taufkirchen). The contract has a gross volume of around 1.2 billion EUR, which is distributed among the partner companies based on their respective shares as follows: Rheinmetall 607 million EUR, Diehl 339 million EUR, and Hensoldt 284 million EUR.

In order to fulfill Germany's role in NATO as a reference nation in ground-based air defense and in the European Skyshield Initiative, the introduction of the LVS NNbS is a crucial step and addresses a significant capability gap in the Bundeswehr. The core of the LVS NNbS development project is to optimize medium-range air defense and develop highly mobile air defense capabilities to protect deployed troops from threats in the air, even while on the move.

The contract aims to implement necessary solutions for networking individual components, integrating the IRIS T-SLM air defense system, establishing interoperability, and enhancing short-range interception capabilities.

This networking enables the connection of the already procured IRIS T-SLM firing units and the future procurement of the Skyranger 30 air defense cannon tank. The project is being developed and manufactured by the national industry, with the ARGE NNbS as the contracting partner.

By combining complementary core competencies – also from other national providers – the ARGE NNbS has the foundations, capabilities, and expertise to meet the specific requirements. This ensures that key technologies are maintained and further developed in Germany. Rheinmetall contributes its technological expertise and extensive experience in the development and delivery of defense systems, particularly in the areas of vehicles, communication, and integration, through its Electronic Solutions and Vehicle Systems divisions.

Diehl Defence is a leading system house for air defense systems. The company, headquartered in Überlingen, offers a product portfolio that includes systems for ground-based air defense, guided missiles for all branches of the military, ammunition for the Army, Air Force, and Navy, as well as protection systems.

Hensoldt, as a supplier of national key technologies, contributes its expertise and field-proven products such as radars, taking into account comprehensive commonalities of the products, for example in the context of product family concepts and especially in the areas of airspace surveillance, classification, and identification.

RHEINMETALL website