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MILITARY TECHNOLOGY (MILTECH) is the world's leading international tri-service defence monthly magazine in the English language. MILITARY TECHNOLOGY is "Required Reading for Defence Professionals". Follow us on Twitter: MILTECH1

18 June 2014

Eurosatory 2014: Reconnaissance, Engagement, Force Protection, Mobility and Network-Enabled Operations – from Sensor to Shooter

At this year’s Eurosatory, Rheinmetall is presenting its latest products and projects on the Outdoor Pavilion D211. A globally leading supplier of military systems and equipment, the group’s portfolio covers every capability category and the complete sensor-to-shooter sequence. One of Rheinmetall’s core competencies is its ability to weld diverse systems together into a single network.

Rheinmetall is presenting SURVIVOR R for the first time. (Photos: Rheinmetall)

Combat and Logistical Vehicles 

At Eurosatory 2014, Rheinmetall is emphasising its role as one of Europe’s top manufacturers of combat vehicles. Making its first-ever appearance at a major European defence show, the PUMA infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) is on display, a globally unique joint development of Rheinmetall and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), now in series production for the German Army. The vehicle on show is not a prototype, but the genuine article. During extensive cold, heat and live-fire trials recently carried out in Norway and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in cooperation with the Bundeswehr and German procurement authorities, the PUMA performed extremely well.

Rheinmetall and Kraus-Maffei Wegmann's PUMA IFV is on display at Eurosatory


Visitors to the Rheinmetall pavilion can also see a Bundeswehr Bergepanzer 3 armoured recovery vehicle (ARV), for example, and a Swedish Army KODIAK armoured engineering vehicle (AEV). The MBT EVOLUTION, which among other things features modified force protection elements, is featured as well.

In the ream of tactical wheeled vehicles, Rheinmetall is presenting SURVIVOR R for the first time. Jointly developed by Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV) and the Austrian vehicle-maker Achleitner, it features an NBC detection kit. The current version of the BOXER wheeled armoured vehicle with a LANCE medium-calibre turret and the heavily protected 4x4 Armoured Multi Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) round out the group’s portfolio in this domain. As with the basic version of the BOXER, the AMPV was jointly developed with KMW.

As an example of its family of high-mobility logistical vehicles from the HX series, Rheinmetall is also showcasing the HX 4x4. In recent months the RMMV family of vehicles has raced ahead of the competition, winning major procurement orders in Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and elsewhere. The decision to opt for RMMV logistical vehicles equipped with highly protected driver’s cabs shows the importance armies attach to force protection today. Separately displayed, a highly protected truck cab (Integrated Armour Cabin or IAC) keeps the spotlight on protection solutions. It is equipped with sophisticated command and control (C2) technology, a remote control weapon station and Rheinmetall’s hard-kill Active Defence System (ADS).

Rounding out the range of RMMV products on show in Paris is an Austrian Army TGS-MIL 8x8 equipped with a Palfinger crane.

Engagement

Rheinmetall’s unique competence in the world of advanced weapon systems is also on display. Here the spectrum ranges from non-lethal solutions and infantry weapons to medium- and large-calibre systems and high-energy laser effectors.

For the first time ever, at Eurosatory, Rheinmetall is displaying and demonstrating the capabilities of an Oerlikon REVOLVER Gun Mk2 equipped with a sensor unit. This system is of course able to exploit the full potential of Rheinmetall’s proprietary AHEAD technology. Moreover, the gun can also be made C-RAM-capable with a few minor modifications.

Mortar systems that provide infantry units with an organic indirect fire capability form a further focus this year. Rheinmetall supplies a wide array of mortar ammunition in all standard calibres, as well as sophisticated fire control systems.

In the meantime, Rheinmetall has also expanded its “one-stop shop” for 40mm systems. Besides a comprehensive range of ammunition types, the group supplies weapon systems like the HYDRA automatic grenade launcher and the VINGMATE family of fire control systems.

Also on display at Eurosatory is Rheinmetall’s new 120mm tank rounds, the DM11 and the RH31 High Explosive Super Quick, both of which have been optimised for the modern battlefield.

Force Protection 

Along with the ADS, Rheinmetall offers a number of other active and passive protection solutions. These include high-performance lightweight ballistic materials. Soft-kill solutions such as Rheinmetall’s ROSY rapid smoke/obscurant system also deliver highly effective active protection.

Networkability 

Rheinmetall’s integration capabilities also extend to battle management systems that can bring together a vast range of different enablers, networked to form a hard-hitting, highly effective “system of systems”.

At Eurosatory 2014, Rheinmetall is demonstrating this with its INIOCHOS battle management system and the GLADIUS future soldier system developed on behalf of the Bundeswehr. In cooperation with Rohde & Schwarz (R&S), interaction between dismounted troops and various vehicles and their sensors and C4I systems will be presented, along with current concepts for network-enabled operations.

GLADIUS soldier modernisation system by Rheinmetall

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