The armaments companies Rheinmetall and Lockheed Martin want to develop a new, tailor-made rocket artillery system. In a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on April 21, the two companies agreed to cooperate on the development of what Rheinmetall says is a unique German artillery system.
“The letter of intent signed today is a strategically important agreement for us. The combination of Lockheed Martin's proven skills and extensive know-how with Rheinmetall's manufacturing and production experience will open up unique opportunities for both sides," said Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall AG. "For Germany and Rheinmetall, this agreement offers the opportunity to secure key technology and significant value-added shares for Germany."
Bei der Bundeswehr ist das Mittlere Artillerieraketensystem (MARS) eingeführt, das bis 2022 zur Version MARS II leistungsgesteigert worden ist. Der 12-fach-Raketenwerfer mit einem Bradley-Fahrgestell wurde bis 2003 von einem Firmenkonsortium unter Führung von Lockheed Martin mit Diehl Defence, Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) und Aérospatiale-Matra hergestellt worden. Lockheed Martin produziert auch das Raketensystem HiMARS, bei dem der Werfer auf einem Radfahrzeug installiert ist. Die Radversion ist mit 16 Tonnen rund zehn leichter als das Kettenfahrzeug.
According to the Bundeswehr, the maximum combat distance of the MARS II system is 84 km. Long-range weapons have proved particularly effective in the Ukraine war. Therefore, the Bundeswehr has given five MARS II to the Ukraine. The resulting gap is to be closed by subsequent procurement.
In mid-2022, KMW, in cooperation with Iveco and MBDA, presented a modern rocket artillery system with ranges of up to 500 km (ESuTreported). In December 2022, as a result of the cooperation with Elbit, KMW presented the Euro-PULS system as a possible successor system for MARS II (ESuTreported).
Editors / gwh
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