TYR Tactical

Archive for the ‘Munitions’ Category

Saab Receives Order for AT4 from France

Friday, January 27th, 2023

Saab received an order in mid-December 2022 for the anti-armour weapon AT4 from the French Armament General Directorate (DGA). The order value is approximately EUR 24 million and deliveries will take place in 2023. The order was booked in Q4 2022.

The AT4 family is a range of lightweight, man-portable, disposable weapons characterised by ease of use. AT4 can be used against tanks and heavy combat vehicles as well as threats in buildings and fortifications and to protect fixed installations, supply points and other vital assets.

“We are proud to yet again be chosen to deliver our world class single-shot AT4 system to France. Our future ready AT4 will ensure the French armed forces have the necessary firepower to give them the advantage on the battlefield,” says Görgen Johansson, head of Saab´s business area Dynamics.

France has previously ordered Saab’s AT4CS ER (Extended Range), the AT4CS HE (High Explosive) and the AT4CS AST (Anti-Structure). The AT4 family is known as the Roquette NG (Nouvelle Génération) in France.

Rheinmetall Wins Triple-Digit Million-Euro Contract for Explosives Factory in Várpalota, Hungary

Friday, January 6th, 2023

The Hungarian state is building a new explosives plant to produce RDX (Research Department eXplosive) at its site in Várpalota, Hungary. Rheinmetall Denel Munition Pty (Ltd) from South Africa is supplying the necessary plant technology. Under the contract signed on 15 December 2022, a new plant will be built and operated by a joint venture consisting of Rheinmetall and N7 Holding, a state-owned Hungarian enterprise.

The contract is worth a figure in the low three-digit million-euro range.

Now that the planning phase is complete, the project will start in 2023, so that production can begin by 2027. The explosives produced in the new plant can be used for artillery, tank, and mortar ammunition, among other things. The contract covers the supply of plant engineering, technology, and process know-how as well as the associated documentation, training, and all activities necessary to achieve full-scale production.

The project is a strategic investment by Hungary in cooperation with Rheinmetall in response to the shortage of explosives resulting from strong demand for ammunition in Europe and NATO. At the same time, it promotes Europe’s independence from overseas imports in this sector.

Once completed and taken over by the Hungarian state, Rheinmetall AG will be the primary customer for the explosives produced by the plant.

 

Finland Places Order for Saab’s RBS 70 Missiles

Monday, December 26th, 2022

Saab has received an order from Finland regarding missiles for the RBS 70 ground-based air defence system. The order value is approximately SEK 800 million and deliveries will take place 2023-2026.

The order includes Saab’s latest version of the RBS 70 missile, Bolide, which enables engagement with airborne armored targets and drones. The missile will be used with Finland’s current RBS 70 systems, which have been in use in the country for more than 15 years. In Finland the system is referred to as ITO05 and ITO05M (Ilmatorjuntaohjus 05).

“We are proud to continue contributing to Finland’s air defence capability with our future-proof Bolide missile, which can be used against a wide range of threats,” says Görgen Johansson, head of Saab’s business area Dynamics.   

Saab’s portfolio of short-range, ground-based air defence missile systems includes the RBS 70 and the latest version, RBS 70 NG. The RBS 70 has an impressive track-record on the market with more than 1,600 launchers and over 18,000 missiles delivered to 19 nations. 

Saab Receives Order from Latvia for Carl-Gustaf Ammunition

Wednesday, December 21st, 2022

Saab has received orders from the Latvian Ministry of Defence for ammunition for the Carl-Gustaf® recoilless rifle. The order value is approximately SEK 185 million.

The order is placed within a framework agreement between Saab and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) which enables Latvia to place orders for Carl-Gustaf M4 weapons and ammunition over a ten-year period.

“We are pleased to continue delivering our world-class ground combat capabilities to Latvia. This order will support the Latvian National Armed Forces’ ability to meet a wide range of challenges on the modern battlefield,” says Görgen Johansson, head of Saab’s business area Dynamics.

Proven to deliver results on the battlefield, the Carl-Gustaf provides the effectiveness soldiers need. The wide range of ammunition types available for Carl-Gustaf makes it flexible and able to handle any situation on the battlefield, whether it is to destroy an armoured vehicle or structure, or illuminating the battlefield during night-time operations.

Major Order from a NATO Customer: Rheinmetall Wins Framework Contract for 155mm Artillery Ammunition in the Mid Three-Digit Million Euro Range

Tuesday, December 20th, 2022

Rheinmetall has scored another success in the field of artillery ammunition.

A long-time NATO customer awarded the South African subsidiary Rheinmetall Denel Munition a framework contract for the supply of 155mm ammunition of the proven Assegai product line. The order value is in the mid three-digit million EUR range. The framework agreement was concluded in December and has a term of five years.

The five years framework contract provides for the delivery of 155mm M2005 V-LAP (Velocity Enhanced Long Range Artillery Projectile) projectiles, M92 modular charges and various fuzes. The 155mm M2005 V-LAP projectile features a high fragmentation effect as well as extended range through rocket and base bleed technology. The rocket assist V-LAP projectile together with the Assegai M92 tactical charges features barrel erosion and muzzle signature reducer properties. It is designed according to the NATO Joint Ballistics Memorandum of Under¬standing (JBMoU) requirements and qualified according to STANAG guidelines. The ammunition is already deployed in several NATO countries.

“We are proud to support our long-time NATO partner with Rheinmetall‘s world leading long range artillery suite. Framework agreements provide long-term ammunition supply assurance and a flexible system for procuring ammunition over the course of a year”, stated Jan-Patrick Helmsen, CEO of Rheinmetall Denel Munition. “The rocket assist V-lap together with the tactical assegai charges M92 with barrel wearer reducer and muzzle flash reducer will support both the soldiers in the battlefield and the logistics and maintenance troops.”

The M2005 HE V-LAP projectile is at the forefront of modern artillery technology and provides an extended range interdiction capability against soft targets and soft skinned vehicles as well as the disruption of logistical supply lines beyond the close battlefield. The M2005 projectile can be used with suitable NATO standard fuzes and JBMoU compatible modular charge systems and can be fired from any compatible 155mm weapon system. The base drag reduction and rocket assistance extend the range performance of Assegai with no special operational and logistical requirements.

Jointly owned by Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH (51%) of Germany and Denel (Pty) Ltd, Rheinmetall Denel Munition produces a wide variety of ammunition such as 155 mm artillery ammunition, 60, 81 and 120 mm mortars, 40 mm grenades and 76/62 mm Naval Rounds, aircraft bombs and mine breaching systems. Rheinmetall Denel Munition also builds ammunition filling plants for export and manufactures missile subsystems.

Saab Receives Orders for Short-Range Air Defence Systems from Latvia

Saturday, December 17th, 2022

Saab has received orders for the RBS 70 NG ground-based air defence system and the Giraffe 1X radar from the Latvian Ministry of Defence. Deliveries will begin in 2022.

The Giraffe 1X radar, combined with the RBS 70 NG, will further strengthen Latvia’s air defence capabilities by enabling improved performance.

“Our wide knowledge within ground-based air defence enables us to offer a complete solution within the area. With this order, the Latvian National Armed Forces will receive the Giraffe 1X radar with its best-in-class capabilities, as well as the world’s most capable short-range air defence system RBS 70 NG,” says Mats-Olof Rydberg, head of Marketing and Sales, Saab’s business unit Missile Systems.

RBS 70 NG is used by a number of nations across the world, including Sweden, the Czech Republic and Brazil. The latest version offers an automatic target tracker and a built-in night sight. Giraffe 1X is on contract for a range of customers and is a truly compact, lightweight high-performing 3D radar. Giraffe 1X can be used for tasks including ground based air defence, Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) and site protection as well as naval applications for all types of vessels.

Textron Systems Wins $162 Million Close Terrain Shaping Obstacle Increment 1 Contract

Thursday, December 8th, 2022

Award Supports Modernization of U.S. Army’s Terrain Shaping Capabilities

WILMINGTON, MA/December 5, 2022 – Textron Systems Corporation, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today that it received a five-year contract valued at $162 million from the U.S. Army Contracting Command – New Jersey, in connection with the U.S. Army Project Manager Close Combat Systems, to develop a remote command and control capable, anti-vehicle precision munition system that supports the Army’s terrain shaping operations modernization program.

Textron Systems will design an advanced anti-vehicle, soldier-in-the-loop munition system to support the Close Terrain Shaping Obstacle (CTSO) Increment 1 Common Anti-Vehicle Munition Based Top Attack System. CTSO Increment 1 fulfills a U.S. Army directive to replace obsolete munitions with next-generation technology that enables soldiers to effectively conduct terrain-shaping operations against peer threats. CTSO Increment 1 is the first of three increments of increased capabilities in the U.S. Army’s plans to modernize terrain shaping operations.

“We are committed to supporting the soldier by giving them technology that increases their combat advantage, and by keeping the soldier in the loop we give them even more control,” said Henry Finneral, Senior Vice President, Weapon Systems. “This munition will increase tactical protection for our troops who are facing increasingly sophisticated enemies. For the adversaries and the types of conflicts we see emerging, this will represent a true next-generation anti-vehicle weapon.”

The munition developed for Increment 1 will have stand-off and top attack capabilities designed to support complex terrain shaping operations by denying enemy armored vehicles freedom to maneuver. The system will be rapidly emplaced and highly portable, and will be designed to be employed alone, in multiples or in tandem with other terrain shaping systems.

Over a five-year period of performance, Textron Systems will develop the CTSO Increment 1 design, conduct contractor qualification testing and deliver hardware in support of government qualification testing. Capabilities will include increased effectiveness over legacy systems, mission planning tools, a remote-control station that enables constant soldier-in-the-loop control, and the ability to turn the munition on-and-off on command. CTSO Increment 1 allows an operator to control multiple systems and have improved sensing and reporting capabilities. The munition may be rapidly emplaced, is recoverable, and is non-persistent.

www.textronsystems.com

Editor’s Note: These US Army images depict their operating concept for a Top Attack Munition as well as the hand emplaced XM204 munition manufactured by Textron.

Saab Receives NLAW Order from the UK

Thursday, December 8th, 2022

Saab has reached an agreement with and received an order from the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence for the Next Generation Light Anti-Tank Weapon system (NLAW). The order value is approximately SEK 2.9 billion and deliveries will take place 2023-2026.

NLAW is a shoulder-launched, anti-tank guided missile system that attacks the tank from above.

 “Demand is increasing for anti-tank systems such as NLAW. We look forward to further strengthening our close relationship with the UK and are proud to continue delivering our proven and trusted anti-tank capability,” says Saab’s President and CEO Micael Johansson.

NLAW combines the simplicity of light anti-armour weapons with the advantages of heavy, crew-operated guided missile systems. With NLAW, a single soldier can take out a heavily-protected modern main battle tank at ranges between 20 and 800 metres.