Rheinmetall, Rohde & Schwarz JV launched, will bid German Army Digitization Program

A new joint venture, Rheinmetall - Rohde & Schwarz - Military IT and Communications Solutions GmbH (RRS-MITCOS) has set up to meet the German military’s requirement for integrated operational and communications systems.

The new company will bid for the Germany’s ground forces digitization programme worth several billion euros.

RRS-MITCOS has now commenced operations in Berlin following completion of the approval process of the European and national competition authorities and entry into the commercial register.

Back in March 2017, Rheinmetall and Rohde & Schwarz embarked on a wide-ranging partnership that led to the creation of this joint venture. Rheinmetall holds a 74.9% stake in the new company, with the remaining 25.1% belonging to Rohde & Schwarz.

The two parent companies intend to use RRS-MITCOS to bid for the Bundeswehr’s “Digitization of Land-based Operations” (D-LBO) programme, which supersedes two previous projects. The joint venture is open to incorporating the expertise and solutions of additional partners, which are to be included in subsequent project phases. 

D-LBO is the Bundeswehr’s premier modernization project, which will result in the future digital command system of the German Army. In the Bundeswehr’s inventory alone, thousands of vehicles are due to be retrofitted with new technology in the medium term.