Germany, Latvia & Norway Sign Deal to Obtain DM 22 Anti-tank Mines

Germany, Latvia, and Norway have entered into a joint agreement for the procurement of DM 22 guided anti-tank mines, in a move aimed at accelerating defense readiness and expanding multinational cooperation within NATO.

The agreement, led by Germany, allows other countries to join the procurement framework or independently acquire DM 22 mines through a special arrangement with the manufacturer, TDW GmbH, a subsidiary of MBDA Deutschland.

Vice Admiral Carsten Stawitzki, Germany’s National Armaments Director, described the move as a step toward faster and more efficient rearmament. “The agreement demonstrates how, through close international cooperation, we can equip our armed forces with urgently needed capabilities more quickly and efficiently. Together with our partners, we are strengthening European defense — in a concrete and future-oriented way,” he said.

Deliveries to Germany, Latvia, and Norway are set to begin in 2027. The manufacturer is currently establishing a new production line to meet demand.

This new agreement builds on a November 2023 framework deal in which Germany committed to acquiring up to 10,000 DM 22 mines. At that time, 2,600 units were ordered immediately for €67.8 million. A demonstration batch is scheduled for 2025, with deliveries beginning in 2026.

The DM 22 is a roadside, directed-energy anti-tank mine with a tandem warhead designed to hit vehicles from the side at distances of up to 60 meters. Weighing about 10 kilograms, it is triggered when a vehicle crosses an optical fiber cable laid across the road.

After being transferred to Ukraine from Bundeswehr stockpiles, Germany resumed procurement, but required technical modifications to restart production due to outdated components.

TDW also unveiled a new version of the mine, the PARM NextGen, in 2024. The updated mine drops the fiber optic trigger and instead uses vibration, acoustic, and infrared sensors to detect and confirm targets. It also introduces a radio control system, allowing remote arming or disarming of multiple mines simultaneously at distances of several hundred meters.