Go for it! On it! Over it! - Digitalized armored infantry

Rheinmetall plays a significant role in the modern equipment of the NATO spearhead force Very High Joint Readiness Task Force 2023 (VJTF 2023) provided by the German Bundeswehr. Contracts have now been awarded to a consortium for the project "System Panzergrenadier VJTF 2023", with a total value for Rheinmetall of over 470 million EUR gross. The work has already started and will continue until the end of the VJTF readiness phase in 2024.

A corresponding commissioning of the consortium (ARGE) Puma was carried out on July 11, 2019 by the Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology and Utilization of the Bundeswehr. ARGE Puma is a collaboration between the Puma manufacturer PSM Projekt System Management GmbH - in which Rheinmetall holds 50 percent of the shares - and Rheinmetall Electronics GmbH. Subcontracting within ARGE will take place shortly.

The Panzergrenadier system integrates the infantry fighting vehicle Puma, the main weapon system of the mechanized infantry, and the modular combat gear "Infantryman of the Future - Extended System" into networked operational command in a forward-looking manner.

Services within the scope of the "System Panzergrenadier VJTF 2023" include extensive combat value enhancements of 41 Puma infantry fighting vehicles, as well as other measures to better integrate the infantry fighting vehicles and dismounted mechanized infantry. The total value of this contract for Rheinmetall amounts to 258.3 million EUR gross. The systems will be delivered by the end of 2020/beginning of 2021.

The contract package includes the complete logistical support of the VJTF Pumas over a period of five years, including spare parts and special tools as well as spare parts logistics. It also includes a new generation of digital radios for the infantry fighting vehicles, as well as the integration of the Multi-role-capable Light Anti-tank Weapon System (MELLS), which significantly enhances the capabilities of the Pumas. The integration of new day and night vision cameras as well as color displays is also part of the commissioned service package. The optimized day and night vision increases reconnaissance range and provides an extended view for the crew. Additionally, new training equipment is provided to enable realistic training of the unit.

Closely linked to the hardware integration of the new optronics systems and monitors for the infantry fighting vehicles is the contract for the ongoing development of the "Chassis Vision Enhancement Kit", which is linked to an order intake of 67.2 million EUR gross.

Rheinmetall is also equipping the armored infantry companies of VJTF 2023 with the unified command and information system Information System (BMS) "TacNet". Initially, ten platoon systems of the Soldier System "Infantryman of the Future - Extended System (IdZ-ES)" will be brought to the more modern standard IdZ-ES K-Stand VJTF 2023. Through better networking, Puma crews and dismounted infantry squads will have the same current and comprehensive situational awareness. Rheinmetall thus enables the command capabilities of the mechanized infantry from individual soldier to company commander. These modernizations are associated with order intakes of 146.5 million EUR gross for Rheinmetall.

The "System Panzergrenadier VJTF 2023" significantly enhances the combat power of the VJTF 2023. At the same time, Rheinmetall sees these measures as an important starting point for the further modernization and digitization of the German Bundeswehr.

The modernization of the command capabilities of the entire armored infantry company and the IdZ-ES to the K-Stand VJTF 2023 includes some adjustments to the hardware and software. Significant innovations include the abandonment of the "Electronic Backbone" as well as new modern radios for dismounted soldiers and infantry fighting vehicles, which improve command capabilities and enable secure exchange of large data volumes.

As part of the development of the new vision systems and their integration into the Puma, initially five sets of first-article assemblies will be produced and integrated into five production vehicles. These works should be completed by 2022. Subsequently, validation will be conducted by the military technical authorities until 2023.

The digitalization of the vision systems is also accompanied by the implementation of the NATO Generic Vehicle Architecture (NGVA) in the Puma. It forms the foundation for the future theme "Sensor to Shooter". The networking of the sensors and effectors of an individual vehicle that has now begun will soon allow the networking of the sensors and effectors of entire units and formations. Thus, the Puma is one of the first digitized combat vehicles worldwide.

RHEINMETALL on the Internet: www.rheinmetall.com