German Bundeswehr Calls Off Rheinmetall Artillery Ammunition for Ukraine

In a move to reinforce support for the Ukrainian armed forces, the German Bundeswehr has activated a call-off for 155mm artillery ammunition from Rheinmetall, pursuant to an existing framework agreement.

Rheinmetall, under this contract, is set to supply a substantial quantity of various artillery shells, with the order valued in the three-digit million euros range. The scheduled delivery for this ammunition is expected to transpire throughout 2025.

This call-off extends the series of artillery ammunition orders previously placed by the Bundeswehr for both the Ukrainian and German armed forces. In July 2023, Rheinmetall and the Bundeswehr concluded a new framework agreement in the artillery sector, covering the delivery of several hundred thousand shells, fuses, and propelling charges. The agreement extends until 2029, with a potential gross order volume of approximately €1.2 billion, including VAT.

The ongoing demand for ammunition, driven by the conflict in Ukraine, has resulted in substantial artillery ammunition contracts for Rheinmetall.

Rheinmetall's artillery ammunition family includes the DM121 high explosive, DM125 smoke/obscurant shell, DM121 SMArt search-fused round (jointly developed with Diehl Defence), RH68 practice version, and RH1901 and RH1902 range-optimized smoke/obscurant shells. Additionally, the Assegai family of 155mm artillery ammunition, developed with Rheinmetall Denel of South Africa, includes insensitive munitions (IM), conventional high explosive (HE) rounds, smoke/obscurant, illumination, infrared illumination, and other shells. The Assegai family, featuring boat tail (BT) and base bleed (BB) configurations, provides a ballistic equilibrium for the entire ammunition spectrum, usable at a maximum effective range of approximately 40 kilometres. As part of the framework contract, the Bundeswehr plans to introduce the Assegai ammunition family.

Rheinmetall Expal Munitions also offers artillery ammunition, including the 155mm M107 and 155mm Extended Range, contributing to the ongoing support for the Ukrainian armed forces.