Dutch Army Orders Rheinmetall Artillery Ammunition

The Dutch procurement agency DMO has just placed an order for illumination and smoke/obscurant shells from Rheinmetall’s ammunition family.

The NATO nation will take delivery of the projectiles in mid-2023. Worth a figure in the two-digit million-euro range, the order forms part of a multi-year ammunition framework contract between the Dutch armed forces and Rheinmetall.

The contract encompasses the supply of 155mm illumination rounds respectively M1808 Base Bleed and M1809 Boat Tail projectiles as well as the smoke rounds RH1901 Base Bleed und RH1902 Boat Tail. Complementing high explosive shells already fielded by the Dutch military.

In the last months, the 155mm Illumination IR and Smoke/obscurant shells have been successfully qualified. The 155mm Assegai IR illumination shells allow artillery batteries to illuminate the battlefield, enhancing the reconnaissance and detection capabilities of night observation devices. The 155mm smoke/obscurant projectiles use Rheinmetall smoke/obscurant technology. When fired from the already fielded 155mm L52 howitzer with modular propelling charges already in service, the illumination and smoke/obscurant projectiles attain a range of 40 km. Using the special top charge increases the range by a further 15%.