More light & fog for the Netherlands

Rheinmetall can chalk up another success in its artillery segment. The Dutch procurement organization DMO has awarded Rheinmetall the contract to deliver illumination and smoke projectiles. The projectiles are scheduled to be introduced in mid-2023 in the NATO customer country. The order is valued in the double-digit million EUR range. It is part of a multi-year ammunition framework contract between the Dutch armed forces and Rheinmetall. The contract includes the delivery of 155mm illumination projectiles of the two types M1808 Base Bleed and M1809 Boat Tail as well as RH1901 Base Bleed and RH1902 Boat Tail. The illumination projectiles are part of the proven Assegai ammunition family and complement the high explosive projectiles already in use.

The entire ammunition family from Rheinmetall has been tested and qualified under extreme conditions to provide above-average performance in terms of safety, reliability, consistency, and range enhancement. Most recently, in the third quarter of 2021, the qualification of IR illumination and smoke ammunition was successfully completed. The 155mm Assegai IR illumination projectiles serve the artillery troops for battlefield illumination to enhance reconnaissance using state-of-the-art night vision devices. The 155mm smoke projectiles are based on Rheinmetall smoke technology already used in NATO forces. The illumination and smoke projectiles, when used with the introduced 155mm L52 howitzer and the also introduced modular charge system, have a range of 40 kilometers. By using the special top-charge, the range can be further increased by 15 percent.

The recent order underscores Rheinmetall's role as a systems house in the field of artillery. As such, Rheinmetall follows the approach of providing capabilities on both the weapon and ammunition side. This was demonstrated once again by the international Rheinmetall project team of the South African Rheinmetall Denel Munition Ltd and the German Rheinmetall Weapon Munition GmbH just a few weeks ago during a shooting exercise at the South African test site Alkantpan. The NATO customer followed the qualification completion with 40km range demonstration from their office through an online connection.

During this shooting exercise, Rheinmetall presented not only the smoke and infrared illumination projectiles but also the new projectile RH141. This is the newly developed 155mm insensitive high explosive projectile, which can be used in the upcoming L60 howitzer currently in development.

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