Rheinmetall and US company General Dynamics establish joint venture for large caliber ammunition
April 20.04.2012, 120 Düsseldorf - Rheinmetall Defense and the US company General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GD-OTS), a General Dynamics business unit, have bundled their armored ammunition activities in a transatlantic joint venture company. The new "Defense Munitions International (DMI)", based in the USA, will develop and sell proven and new XNUMX mm balancing and multi-purpose ammunition for the American and international main battle tank ammunition market.
The partners bring their entire activities - development, production and sales - in the field of 120mm combat ammunition for battle tanks to the DMI; Only 120mm practice ammunition and ammunition of other calibres are excluded. By merging their activities in the DMI, Rheinmetall Defense and GD-OTS are aiming to further expand international market access, leverage production synergies and realize joint developments.
With the joint venture, a long-standing and successful German-American cooperation results in a future-oriented new company constellation. Rheinmetall Defense and General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems have been working together in the field of 120mm ammunition for more than ten years on a large number of projects, such as the development of state-of-the-art tungsten projectiles of the KEW-A1 and KEW-A2 types for international users of the Abrams Main Battle Tank. Rheinmetall has been developing the technology of uranium-free and non-explosive tungsten-based bulky ammunition - so-called KE ammunition, where KE stands for kinetic energy - since the mid-70s and delivered it as DM 63 to a number of Leopard 2 users such as the German armed forces and other NATO armed forces .
The aim of the joint venture is for DMI to continue these activities and to further improve the KEW family. In addition, the new company plans to develop and manufacture advanced multi-purpose ammunition. It can build on the success of Rheinmetall's recently introduced DM 11 programmable armored ammunition, which the US Marine Corps already uses in Afghanistan.
Armin Papperger, Member of the Board of Management of Rheinmetall AG: “With this pioneering joint venture, Rheinmetall is continuing the path of internationalization it has embarked on, also at the transatlantic level. With DMI, we will be able to better serve the needs of our global customers in the future with an enlarged product portfolio and an expanded range of services. Our strategic cooperation with GD-OTS as part of the joint venture for the marketing of tactical tank ammunition is a logical consequence of more than 10 years of positive cooperation. Together we are now striving for a leading position in global competition in the field of tank ammunition. "
Michael Wilson, President of General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems: “We are pleased to have created this joint venture with Rheinmetall. Our successful collaboration over the past decade lays the foundation for this. With DMI we will continue to build on this success in the area of the existing market segments, while at the same time we will specifically expand our range. The Rheinmetall DM 11 recently acquired by the Marines adds another powerful capability to the arsenal. "
About General Dynamic Ordnance and Tactical Systems
General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GD-OTS), a business unit of General Dynamics, is a leading global provider of large, medium and small caliber ammunition - for both direct and indirect fire - as well as mortar systems and components, artillery ammunition and propellants. The company continues to specialize in the manufacture of precision metal components for dropping ammunition and tactical guided missiles and offers explosives loading, assembly and packaging services for various ammunition, missile and missile programs. It also designs and manufactures shaped charge and penetrator warheads.
More information: www.gd-ots.com.
About Rheinmetall AG
Rheinmetall is one of the major names in the international defense and security industry. With approximately 10.000 employees, Rheinmetall Defense 2011 generated annual sales of around 2 billion (2,6 billionUSD).
Rheinmetall covers the arms and ammunition sector with a wide range of medium and large caliber products. The spectrum ranges from the armament of the Eurofighter and the medium caliber guards for naval boats and armored personnel carriers to artillery and armored weapon systems, including ammunition.
More information: www.rheinmetall-defence.com.
