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2021-10-01

Rheinmetall and RBSL Exhibit Wide-Ranging Capabilities

Rheinmetall and its joint venture company Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) recently participated at DSEI 2021 in London and showcased some of their latest activities and products. These included key projects relating to the revamp of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces, and put the spotlight on new developments such as:

Delivery of Boxer MIV

In November 2019, the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) awarded the Boxer Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV) contract via OCCAR to Artec GmbH – a joint venture between Rheinmetall and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW). The contract will deliver over 500 Boxer vehicles across four variants: troop transporters, command vehicles, field ambulances and specialist carriers.

Manufacture of the Boxer vehicles has been subcontracted between UK companies, RBSL and WFEL. RBSL has placed several UK supplier contracts to support the delivery of the vehicles, and, in June, welding on the first prototype began at Rheinmetall’s plant in Kassel, Germany.

RBSL and Rheinmetall are working closely together to ensure the transfer of knowledge and technology to deliver Boxer at the highest quality. Delivery of Rheinmetall and RBSL’s portion of the vehicles is due from 2023.

Transforming Challenger Main Battle Tanks

As announced in May, RBSL will be transforming a total of 148 Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks into the new Challenger 3 configuration.

The upgrade includes a new turret incorporating digital system architecture, Rheinmetall’s tried-and-tested 120mm smoothbore L55A1 tank gun, state-of-the-art kinetic energy tank rounds, and the latest programmable high explosive multipurpose ammunition.

The Challenger 3 will be a network-enabled digital MBT that combines lethality with improved battlefield survivability. Rheinmetall and RBSL showcased the Challenger 3 demonstrator vehicle at DSEI.

HX3 – Advanced Mobile Platform

Rheinmetall’s new HX3 generation stands out because of its improved crew protection, greater mobility, enhanced driving comfort, and digital interface architecture, resulting in operational flexibility and creating scope for future performance upgrades.

The HX3 builds on the core strengths and family concept of its HX2 predecessor to become an even more advanced mobile platform for complex weapon and radar systems.

These include truck-based artillery systems, which are likely to play a prominent role in coming years.

On show at DSEI, the Rheinmetall wheeled self-propelled howitzer was mounted on a high mobility HX 10x10 chassis. It was equipped with a highly protected cab and a fully automatic, remote-controlled artillery turret. The HX 10x10 will serve in future as a standard platform for a variety of artillery systems and similar military hardware.

Striking Solutions

Robotics today is already changing the face of the modern battlefield. For example, cargo and fire support versions of Rheinmetall’s unmanned Mission Master SP (Silent Partner) are already being evaluated under the British Army’s Robotic Platoon Vehicle programme.

As recently as June, Rheinmetall unveiled a new member of its growing family of unmanned vehicles – the Mission Master XT. Designed to carry heavy payloads in extreme terrain, this Autonomous Unmanned Ground Vehicle (AUGV) was on display for the first time in the UK.

High-mobility ground-based air defence systems are gaining renewed importance now that NATO armed forces are pivoting back to a national and alliance defence role.

Rheinmetall’s Skyranger systems, armed with 35mm or 30mm automatic cannon and other effectors, can be mounted on tracked or wheeled armoured vehicles such as the Boxer or Lynx.

As a high-tech specialist for security and mobility, Rheinmetall supports the ongoing process of digitising the armed forces. It sets an especially high standard, drawing on its extensive experience in sensors, effectors, networking, C4I and soldier systems.

Rheinmetall’s comprehensive expertise in force protection technology ranges from individual passive ballistic solutions, like hard ballistic inserts for bullet-resistant vests, to state-of-the-art standoff active protection systems. At DSEI, Rheinmetall also presented the StrikeShield, an integrated module for vehicles that combine active and passive force protection technologies.

The Group is also one of the world’s foremost producers of training and simulation solutions, contributing to the high operational readiness and effectiveness of modern armed forces and security services. Furthermore, at DSEI, Rheinmetall highlighted its Osiris constructive simulation for staff exercises and operational research as well as the Legatus live training system.

During DSEI, Rheinmetall exhibited its wide-ranging expertise in almost all capability categories. These included weapon and ammunition systems that enable scalable, threat-commensurate engagement of targets, plus innovative, network-capable sensor systems for applications on land, at sea and in the air.

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