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Archive for the ‘Ammo’ Category

Major Order: Rheinmetall Supplying NATO Member Nation with Multiple Rocket Launcher Ammunition and Other Systems Worth More Than €300 Million

Tuesday, March 5th, 2024

Rheinmetall has won an order to supply a European member of NATO with multiple rocket launcher ammunition. Delivery is to take place from 2024 to 2027. The order, which was already booked in December 2023, represents sales volume for Rheinmetall of more than €300 million, without value added tax.

Rheinmetall Expal Munitions of Spain is responsible for manufacturing and delivering the rockets, which have a maximum range of 300 km. The order also encompasses additional services and other systems.

This is Rheinmetall’s first sales success in rocket artillery, vindicating the recent strategic expansion of its product portfolio. Just the other day, on 12 February, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz wielded a shovel at the ground-breaking ceremony took place at Unterlüß in Lower Saxony for a new factory that will produce explosives, artillery ammunition and rocket artillery components.

In artillery systems, 120mm smoothbore tank ammunition, cannon-based air defence and the production of medium-calibre ammunition, Rheinmetall is a leading global supplier. Ever since its foundation over 125 years ago, the company has been a reliable partner of the artillery branch, supplying seamless barrels for big guns. In the ammunition domain, today Rheinmetall supplies a comprehensive array of ammunition types in various calibres.

The latest orders for artillery rockets and 155mm artillery ammunition underscore Rheinmetall’s technological edge in ammunition development and production in Europe. Framework contracts for artillery ammunition help to make sure that the needs of the armed forces of Germany and other NATO nations are reliably met. They enable better planning of production processes and optimum exploitation of existing capacity.

Joint Venture with Ukrainian Partner: Rheinmetall to Produce Artillery Ammunition in Ukraine

Monday, February 19th, 2024

Rheinmetall, Europe’s largest ammunition maker, plans to open a new plant in Ukraine. Rheinmetall and a Ukrainian partner company have signed a memorandum of understanding to set up a joint venture which in future will produce ammunition in Ukraine. The MoU was signed in the presence of Alexander Kamyshin, the Ukrainian Minister for Strategic Industries, during the Munich Security Conference.

The “Ukrainian Competence Center for Ammunition” is to produce a six-digit number of 155mm calibre bullets per year in the future, including the corresponding propelling charges. To achieve this, the partners plan to build and jointly operate a new production facility. Rheinmetall will have a 51 percent stake in the new company, with the remaining 49 percent share held by the Ukrainian partner.

Just the other day, on 12 February, Chancellor Scholz took part in the ground-breaking ceremony for a new plant at Unterlüß in Lower Saxony which, along with explosives and rocket artillery components, will also produce artillery ammunition starting in 2025.

“Demand for ammunition in many countries is enormous – first and foremost in Ukraine, of course. Our intention of establishing another joint venture underscores our support for Ukraine. This joint venture will make a vital contribution to the country’s ability to defend itself – and thus to the security of all Europe”, declares Armin Papperger, chairman of the executive board of Rheinmetall AG.

As Mr Papperger puts it, “We want to be an effective partner of Ukraine, to help rebuild the country’s once powerful defence industry, and to assure Ukrainian autonomy in ammunition production. Already today, we are Kyiv’s most important defence industry partner. We are currently processing several billion euros worth of projects on behalf of Ukraine, with more almost daily.”

Rheinmetall is not only the world’s largest producer of artillery ammunition and a defence technology leader. It also has the expertise needed to plan, build and operate facilities for producing ammunition.

In October 2023 Rheinmetall AG and Ukraine’s state-owned enterprise Ukrainian Defense Industry JSC (UDI, the former Ukroboronprom) established a first joint venture in Kyiv – Rheinmetall Ukrainian Defense Industry LLC. In a first step, the company will maintain and repair combat vehicles; later, armored vehicles will also be built in Ukraine.

Shoring Up National Security Preparedness: Rheinmetall to Build New Ammunition Plant

Friday, February 16th, 2024

German Chancellor and Prime Minister of Denmark Take Part in Ground-breaking Ceremony
Rheinmetall is taking an important strategic step to bolster Germany’s national security preparedness. The Düsseldorf-based tech enterprise is building a new factory at its Unterlüß site in the Lüneburg Heath in Lower Saxony, further enhancing the country’s self-reliance in ammunition production. Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen, and German defence minister Boris Pistorius joined Rheinmetall AG executive board chairman Armin Papperger for the official ground-breaking ceremony of “Werk Niedersachsen”, the Group’s new ammunition factory. Numerous other prominent personalities from the world of politics, administration, the armed forces and industry were present as well.

In future, Werk Niedersachsen will produce artillery ammunition, explosives and rocket artillery components. The factory will eventually manufacture some 200,000 artillery shells a year, along with up to 1,900 tonnes of RDX explosive and, optionally, other components for producing ammunition charges. In addition, production of rocket engines and possibly warheads could take place here, which will be necessary for the planned German rocket artillery project, for example.

“To secure Germany’s strategic sovereignty in the large-calibre ammunition domain, we’re creating a national production facility that sets new standards and will primarily meet the needs of the German Bundeswehr”, declares Armin Papperger, going on to note that “with Werk Niedersachsen, we’re establishing another European centre for producing artillery ammunition and other effectors at our historic Unterlüß site. The move reflects our sense of responsibility and resolve to contribute materially to the ability of our country and our NATO partners to defend itself.”

This company-financed project represents investment volume in the €300 million range. Rheinmetall is therefore shouldering the entire cost of constructing the factory, with no government involvement. The factory will also mean around 500 new jobs in Unterlüß.

Rheinmetall’s new factory will make it possible to meet the Bundeswehr’s own needs through domestic production and – especially in a crisis – to assure unrestricted transfers to partner nations. Previous dependency on export permits issued by other countries will thus be eliminated, giving Germany full sovereignty in this national security-relevant domain. In the process, Rheinmetall will create a complete value-added chain for artillery ammunition in Unterlüß, enabling it to offer the ‘full shot’ from a single source, including the shell, fuse, explosive charge and propelling charge.

Werk Niedersachsen will operate largely autonomously, with all the work steps necessary for producing artillery shells carried out on location. In building this plant, Rheinmetall is pursuing a modular, scalable concept for assuring a secure supply of ammunition, one with the potential for additional growth.

The top priority for the new factory is the earliest possible start of production. Following a construction period of around twelve months – proceeding from the date of the contract – annual capacity will be 50,000 shells a year. Germany’s initial share of value added will come to 50 percent, gradually increasing in the second year of production to 80 percent and to 100 percent in the third. By this point, Germany will have a fully autarkic supply of artillery ammunition, with value added generated entirely at home.

In terms of volume, annual capacity will reach 100,000 shells in the second year of production, later rising to 200,000 a year.

Background
Artillery is a vital capability of land warfare. The war in Ukraine shows how immense the need for ammunition is. The Bundeswehr’s depots are empty; replenishing its stocks will cost an estimated €40 billion. Enormous consumption of ammunition in Ukraine is exacerbating current shortages. The western world’s available production capacity is not structured to meet demand on this scale. Like other countries, Germany therefore plans to procure large amounts of ammunition over an extended period.

Rheinmetall is a leading defence contractor and one of the world’s largest producers of ammunition.  In recent months, the Group has already been investing substantially in its production network. By 2025, Rheinmetall aims to produce up to 700,000 rounds of artillery ammunition at its plants in Germany, Spain, South Africa, Australia and Hungary, as well as 10,000 tonnes of powder.

Bundeswehr Awards Rheinmetall Contracts for Production and Supply of 40mm Automatic Grenade Launcher Ammunition – Order Worth Around €30 million

Monday, February 5th, 2024

The German Bundeswehr has placed two separate orders with Rheinmetall for production and supply of 40mm ammunition for automatic grenade launchers. Rheinmetall will thus be supplying tens of thousands of programmable 40mm x 53 Airburst Munition (ABM) DM131 service cartridges. This order is worth around €29.5 million, including value added tax. The Bundeswehr has also placed an order for around 200,000 rounds of 40mm x 53 Üb DM158 practice ammunition, worth around €7.18 million, once again including VAT. Delivery of the ammunition is to be complete in 2024. 

A one-stop shop for 40mm systems, Rheinmetall is one of the world’s leading suppliers of ammunition, weapon systems and fire control and aiming technology. Rheinmetall’s 40mm x 53 high-velocity ammunition can be fired from any standard 40mm automatic grenade launcher. The rounds attain a maximum velocity of more than 240 m/s and have a maximum effective range of 2,200 metres. The Group’s wide assortment of cartridges in this segment includes the just-ordered programmable 40mm x 53 ABM. Because the rounds can be timed to detonate in the air, it is possible to engage troops taking cover behind walls, etc. The 40mm x 53 ABM, which the Bundeswehr refers to as the DM131, is qualified for use by the German armed forces. Other NATO armed forces have this advanced munition in their inventories as well. 

Developed and qualified in accordance with the latest standards, the ammunition types now on order are unequalled worldwide in terms of combat effectiveness and precision. Moreover, the design status of the two cartridges fully corresponds to the stipulations contained in the European directive covering the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). 

Ammunition Production Capacity Increasing: Várpalota Ammo Plant Continues to Grow

Thursday, February 1st, 2024


The new Rheinmetall ammunition plant in Várpalota, Hungary, currently being built by the Hungarian holding company N7 on behalf of the joint venture company Rheinmetall Hungary Munitions Zrt., is now poised to expand as planned. The second phase of construction started in January 2024. 

The concept for a multi-phase expansion of the plant existed prior to February 2022 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The project constitutes a strategic Hungarian investment in cooperation with Rheinmetall in response to the shortfall in ammunition already apparent at the time given the anticipated increase in demand in Europe and NATO. Furthermore, it has the added aim of reducing Europe’s dependence on overseas imports. 

Just one year ago, the foundation stone was laid in Várpalota for the first part of the new Rheinmetall plant, where the joint venture company Rheinmetall Hungary Munitions Zrt. will in future produce ammunition for various systems. The first expansion phase of the plant will enable production of 30mm medium-calibre ammunition for the Lynx infantry fighting vehicles which will be built by Rheinmetall at its new tank plant in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary. Production starts in 2024. 

Now set to begin, the “Várpalota 2.0” expansion will increase the size of the plant by 20 hectares to approximately 120 hectares. The number of employees will grow to up to a total of 200. 

In addition, the product range will expand to include new types of ammunition, principally 155mm artillery shells for the PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer and 120mm ammunition for the Leopard 2 main battle tank and its potential follower, the Panther KF51 EVO. Production is slated to begin in early 2026. Furthermore, Rheinmetall also plans to carry out development and acceptance testing at Várpalota. 

Part of this strategic expansion of capacity for the production of ammunition in Hungary is also an additional plant for the production of explosives (RDX), which is being built in parallel on the same site and also in a joint venture between Reinmetall and N7. This will also make a major contribution to ensuring the security of supply of this elementary raw material for ammunition production in Europe.

Part of the Várpalota’s output will meet the needs of the Hungarian armed forces, with the rest destined for export.  

In addition to the newly built plant operated by Rheinmetall Hungary Munitions Zrt., today Rheinmetall already produces ammunition in Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, South Africa, Australia and the United States. 

California Ammo Background Check Requirement Overturned – Botach Inc. Resumes Shipping to California

Thursday, February 1st, 2024

Botach Inc., a leading supplier of tactical and outdoor equipment, is thrilled to announce the resumption of ammunition sales to California, following the recent overturning of the state’s ammunition background check requirement. This landmark decision marks a significant moment for Second Amendment rights in California.

The ruling, which deemed the background check requirement unconstitutional, opens the door for California residents to once again purchase ammunition without the previous regulatory constraints. Botach Inc. has promptly responded to this change, ensuring a seamless process for customers in California to access our extensive range of ammunition.

“We are excited to once again serve our loyal customers in California,” said Mr. Botach of Botach Inc. “Our commitment to providing the best tactical and outdoor equipment extends to all Americans, and this ruling allows us to better fulfill that promise to our customers in California.”

Botach Inc. has a long-standing reputation for offering a wide variety of high-quality ammunition and tactical gear, catering to both civilian and law enforcement needs. The company is dedicated to providing exceptional customer service and timely delivery, ensuring that California residents can quickly and efficiently receive their orders.

California customers can now browse and purchase from Botach Inc.’s comprehensive selection of ammunition online. We are committed to ensuring a smooth and compliant process for all purchases and deliveries in accordance with state and federal laws.

For more information about our products and services, or to place an order, please visit Botach.com or contact Sales@botach.com

Browning Ammunition SUB22 Subsonic Rimfire Now Available

Friday, January 26th, 2024

Arnold, Mo., (January 25, 2024) – Browning Ammunition SUB22, a subsonic 22LR ammunition purpose built for use in semi-auto pistols equipped with a suppressor is now available. 

Ideal for target shooters and small game hunters using a suppressed pistol, SUB22 ammunition features more reliable functioning in semi-auto pistols while also achieving maximum noise suppression. 

•    Designed to remain subsonic through pistol length barrels

•    Optimized to function in suppressed semi-auto pistols

•    Black copper plated lead round nose bullet

•    100 round box

SUB22 ammunition is now available at an outdoor retailer or dealer near you.  Learn Learn more about the full line of Browning Ammunition at www.browningammo.com

Bundeswehr Procuring Medium-Calibre Ammunition for Puma Infantry Fighting Vehicle; Order Worth a Triple-Digit Million-Euro Figure

Saturday, January 20th, 2024

The German Bundeswehr has contracted with Rheinmetall to produce and supply medium-calibre ammunition for the Puma infantry fighting vehicle. A call-off from an existing framework agreement, the order encompasses several hundred thousand rounds of 30mm x 173 DM21 service ammunition. The order is worth over €350 million, including value added tax. Once perfect functionality has been demonstrated, delivery will begin this year and continue through to 2027. 

On 30 November 2022 the budget committee of the German Parliament approved a bill for the large-scale procurement of 30mm medium-calibre ammunition. Awarded back in December 2022, the framework contract for the supply of medium-calibre ammunition for the Puma infantry fighting vehicle worth up to €576 million. Follow-up call-offs are therefore expected. A first call-off of DM21 automatic cannon ammunition under the existing framework contract was already issued in late 2022. Furthermore, a call-off for 2023 followed in mid-2023. 

The Puma infantry fighting vehicle is armed with a Rheinmetall MK30-2/ABM, specifically designed to fire airburst ammunition. Combining a high rate of fire with cutting-edge ammunition technology, the MK30-2/ABM is an uncompromisingly excellent, extremely reliable weapon system, perfect for engaging ground, air and maritime targets.   

Rheinmetall is a vital supplier of ammunition for the Bundeswehr’s Puma infantry fighting vehicles. The Group produces and supplies two main types of 30mm x 173 service ammunition: the KETF DM21 (airburst) and the KE DM33 (armour-piercing) as well as the DM58 practice round. Developed and qualified in line with the latest standards, they are unrivalled worldwide in terms of reliability, lethality, penetrating power and precision.  

Extremely reliable programming of the KETF DM21 – the abbreviation stands for Kinetic Energy Time Fuse – enables the Puma to engage larger soft targets and semi-hard area targets. The KE DM33 belongs to the new generation of subcalibre Armour Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot – Tracer (APFSDS-T) ammunition. Its penetrator punches through modern armour even at remarkably small angles of impact and at long engagement ranges. Thanks to these two types of service ammunition, the Puma can successfully take on a wide spectrum of armoured, semi-hard, soft point and area targets.