The Bundeswehr has now ordered a batch of several hundred thousand 30mm x 173 DM21 cartridges from the December 2022 framework contract for the delivery of ammunition for the Puma infantry fighting vehicle. The manufacturer Rheinmetall states the order value is over 350 million euros. Financing comes from the core budget (section 14). So far, around 80,000 cartridges have been called up from the framework agreement. The maximum volume of the framework agreement is stated at 576 million euros. Therefore, further orders are expected.
After proof of functionality, the combat ammunition is scheduled to be delivered starting this year until 2027. With an estimated price of around €1,000 each, the delivery will include around 350,000 cartridges.
Der Schützenpanzer Puma ist mit der Maschinenkanone MK30-2/ABM (Airburst Munition) von Rheinmetall ausgestattet. Sie kombiniert Rheinmetall zufolge hohe Kadenz und moderne Munitionstechnologie nach dem neuesten Stand. Das mache die MK30-2/ABM zu einem kompromisslosen, äußerst zuverlässigen Waffensystem. Die MK30-2/ABM sei äußerst wirksam gegen Land-, Luft- und Seeziele.
As a key ammunition supplier to the Bundeswehr for the Puma infantry fighting vehicle, Rheinmetall produces and supplies the two main combat ammunition KETF DM21 (airburst ammunition) and KE DM33 (arrow ammunition) as well as the DM58 training ammunition.
The 30 mm x 173, DM 21, KETF (Kinetic Energy Time Fuzed) cartridge is the primary combat ammunition of the Puma infantry fighting vehicle (AFV). According to Rheinmetall, the KETF DM21 airburst ammunition enables the Puma infantry fighting vehicle to combat larger soft and semi-hard surface targets thanks to reliable programming. The KE DM33 arrow ammunition belongs to the new generation of armor-piercing sub-caliber ammunition (APFSDS-T, Armor Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot – Tracer). The penetrator of the ammunition penetrates modern armor even at extremely small impact angles and long combat distances. With the two types of combat ammunition, the Puma infantry fighting vehicle is able to combat a target range of armored, semi-hard and soft point and area targets.
Editorial staff / gwh
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