Rheinmetall is taking on an important role in the modernization of the Hungarian Army. The Düsseldorf-based Group is producing the main armament and fire control technology for forty-four Leopard 2 main battle tanks as well as the main armament, fire control technology and chassis for twenty-four PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers. The package also encompasses thirteen HX and TGS logistic trucks. The contract, worth around €300 million, was recently signed. Delivery begins in 2021 and will be completed in 2025.

Rheinmetall has partnered with Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) to carry out the project. In December 2018 KMW won an order from the Hungarian armed forces for forty-four new Leopard 2A7+ tanks and 24 new PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers. This will make Hungary the 19th Leopard 2 user nation and the eighth nation to opt for the PzH2000. As well as having design authority, Rheinmetall is the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of the 120mm smoothbore technology used in all versions of the Leopard 2 tank. The same is true of the 155mm L52 main gun of the PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer.

Tried and tested around the globe, the Group’s 120mm smoothbore gun and ammunition have been continuously perfected right from the start. The higher-pressure 120mm L55A1 gun earmarked for the Leopard 2A7+ was successfully qualified at the end of 2017, and already supplied and installed for two Leopard 2 user nations in mid 2018. Moreover, the L55A1 tank gun is capable of firing the programmable DM11 multipurpose round. In addition, Rheinmetall possesses comprehensive expertise in the field of tracked armoured vehicles, including as an OEM. The Group developed the chassis of the PzH self-propelled howitzer.

Raytheon Rheinmetall Land Systems, a joint venture formed by Raytheon Company and Rheinmetall Defence, has submitted its bid for the U.S. Army’s new Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle, or OMFV, program. The team will offer the next-generation Lynx Infantry Fighting Vehicle. Raytheon Rheinmetall Land Systems offers U.S.-made Lynx Infantry Fighting Vehicle for Army’s combat vehicle competition. Lynx is a next-generation, tracked armored fighting vehicle designed to address the critical challenges of the future battlefield. The vehicle provides ample growth capacity to support new technologies over its lifetime, and features lower life-cycle costs.

Scheduled for fielding in 2026, the OMFV is expected to replace the Bradley fighting vehicle. Raytheon Rheinmetall Land Systems team has spent the last year assembling a U.S. supply chain to ensure that Lynx will be built in America by American workersThis next-generation combat vehicle will help save lives on the battlefield and further bolster the U.S. industrial base – now that’s a win-win. Raytheon technology earmarked for the Lynx includes the company’s advanced weapons, Active Protection System, third-generation thermal sights, Coyote® unmanned aircraft system and cyber protection.

Raytheon Rheinmetall Land Systems Lynx KF41

Raytheon Company, with 2018 sales of $27 billion and 67,000 employees, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity solutions. With a history of innovation spanning 97 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration, C5I® products and services, sensing, effects and mission support for customers in more than 80 countries. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Raytheon Rheinmetall Land Systems Lynx KF41

On September 26 the Lithuanian Armed Forces have taken delivery of 110 Unimog U5000 trucks of 5t payload manufactured by Germany’s Daimler AG as it is updating its truck fleet with vehicles of the same make as there already are in the fleet. The trucks are delivered on the basis of a contract signed back in 2015 though continuing successful cooperation of the Ministry of National Defence and the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA). The value of the contract in total is EUR 70 million.

The tactical vehicles are deployed into service with the Lithuanian Land Force and other units. They are used to supplement equipment fleets with the same technical characteristics that Lithuania’s army troops are already familiar with. Manufactured by German company Daimler, Unimog U5000 vehicles have a permissible load capacity of 5t. The trucks are designed with a flexible frame concept for high body rigidity on the road and high torsional flexibility for off-road applications. They also feature an all-wheel drive (AWD) capability with differential locks at both axles, and portal axles to ensure ground clearance.

88 such trucks have already been delivered to the Lithuanian Armed Forces; the contract covers acquisition of the total of 340 new Unimog trucks. In 2015, the Lithuanian Armed Forces signed an agreement with Daimler for the procurement of 340 Unimog trucks in order to upgrade its vehicle fleet. The contract also included provision for logistical support over the first 15 years of operation, in addition to the delivery of specialised tools and testing equipment.

Lithuanian Armed Forces gets 110 new Unimog U5000 trucks

The Russian army has begun to receive modernised T-90M tanks, Oleg Salyukov, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Ground Forces, said in an interview with Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper. The state contract for the overhaul and modernisation of the T-90A tank, which yielded the T-90M, was concluded between the Defence Ministry and Uralvagonzavod at the Army 2019 forum in June. The first contract was signed in 2017 and serial production started in 2018. The T-90M, a modification of the T-90A, was created in the framework of “Breakthrough-3” (Proryv-3).

The key difference between the tank and previous models is the newly-designed turret module, which features multi-layer armour, Afghanit APS, Relikt ERA. and with the 125A 2A82-1M cannon, which is also used by the Armata tank. The T-90M is equipped with a highly-automated Kalina fire control system, as well as a remotely controlled anti-aircraft machine gun with a 12.7-mm Kord MT machine gun. To protect against enemy fire, the tank features anti-cumulative trellised screens and a Relict dynamic defence system. Crew comfort has been improved with air conditioning.

Russian Army Gets First New T-90M Proryv-3 Tanks