Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH (part of Germany’s Rheinmetall Group) and Thales have signed an agreement to support together the future developments, qualification and production of the 70mm (2.75″) guided and unguided rockets solutions for helicopters as well as potentially other new platforms in Germany. The Thales 70mm (2.75″) rocket systems are currently operated on UHT Tiger and under certification on Airbus Helicopters H145M. As part of the agreement, Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH will lead the team towards the German customers and use its wide experience as main supplier to the Bundeswehr to ensure the future requirements are met.
The agreement deepens the existing relationship between Thales and Rheinmetall in this field as other members of Rheinmetall Group are working in collaborative integration programs with Thales like on Rheinmetall Canada’s Mission Master UGV. Together, Rheinmetall and Thales propose important complementary capabilities, especially in the frame of the Tiger MK3 program (guided rocket in “Lock-On-Before-Launch” mode, additional communication between the rocket system and the platform, identification, remote control…)
Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH is part of Germany’s Rheinmetall Group, Europe’s largest supplier of systems and equipment for armed forces and security services (Turnover 2018: €6.1 billion). With around 2500 employees at various locations in Europe and headquartered in Unterluss, Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH has proven over 130 years its experience and expertise in developing and fabricating a wide portfolio of weapons of ammunition. Rheinmetall Waffe Munition specializes in the development and production of large calibre weapon systems and ammunition, including (for example) the smooth bore main armament of the Leopard 2, the world’s top-performing tank including Air Burst Functionality and the SMArt 155 sensor-fuzed ammunition for the artillery, developed by the joint venture cooperation GIWS.
Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global technology leader shaping the world of tomorrow today. The Group provides solutions, services and products to customers in the aeronautics, space, transport, digital identity and security, and defence markets. With 80,000 employees in 68 countries, Thales generated sales of €19 billion in 2018 (on a pro forma basis including Gemalto). Thales is investing in particular in digital innovations — connectivity, Big Data, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity — technologies that support businesses, organisations and governments in their decisive moments.
