Rheinmetall Announces Restructuring Of Combat Systems Division

The Combat Systems division of the Rheinmetall Group’s Defence arm has adopted a new structure, signalling the start of a new era.

The Combat Systems division is responsible for the company’s tracked combat and combat support vehicles, force protection systems and weapon and ammunition activities. Together with its two sister divisions – Electronics Solutions (defence electronics, sensors, simulation) and Wheeled Vehicles (tactical and logistical wheeled vehicles) – it forms Rheinmetall AG’s Defence arm, according to an official statement.  

The Combat Systems division’s new structure welds the Group’s global activities in the field of weapons and ammunition into a single, globally oriented organization with a strong focus on core competencies and reinforced sales units. Moreover, special organizational measures have been adopted to strengthen the division’s status as one of the foremost in the industry, while helping it to steadily widen its lead. The division is thus clearly oriented to technological innovation and long-term growth. 

Headed by Dr. Andreas Schwer as member of the Executive Board with special responsibility, the Combat Systems division has been reorganized into the following business units: Integrated Systems, Combat Platforms, Weapon & Munition, Propulsion Systems and Protection Systems, effective 1 January 2014. 

The newly founded Integrated Systems business unit, with Ben Hudson at the helm, is responsible for managing major inter-divisional programmes. 

Ralf Prechtl is head of the Combat Platforms business unit, which encompasses the Group’s heavyweight combat vehicles. Besides Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH, the unit includes PSM GmbH, maker of the Puma infantry fighting vehicle, a flagship project on behalf of the German Army. 

The Weapon & Munition business unit, led by Werner Krämer, is in charge of developing and producing medium- and large-calibre weapon systems and ammunition. Just as before, it includes RWM GmbH, RWM Zaugg AG and RWM Arges GmbH. New to the unit are RWM Schweiz AG in Switzerland, ARM Inc. in the USA, Rheinmetall Denel Munition (Pty) Ltd and Rheinmetall Laingsdale (Pty) Ltd of South Africa, and RWM Italia, S.p.A., the last three of which are headed by Norbert Schulze.