Rheinmetall Secures Major Contract for 40mm Grenade Launcher Rounds with Spanish Military
Rheinmetall persists in reinforcing its status as a prominent systems provider for 40mm artillery and munitions systems. The Group’s subsidiary in South Africa, Rheinmetall Denel Munition, has secured a framework agreement from the Spanish armed forces for the provision of 40mm munitions. This contract, awarded a few weeks ago, spans a duration of four years. It encompasses the delivery of 40mm x 53 high velocity combat munitions along with training rounds. An initial order in the low single-digit million euro spectrum has already been placed. The initial ammunition shipments are scheduled to commence in 2022.
The current order from Spain includes 40mm x 53 high explosive (HE), high explosive dual purpose (HEDP), as well as training rounds equipped with and without tracer. These munitions are designed for the SB-40 LAG and Mk 19 grenade machine guns, utilized by both the army and navy.
The 40×53 mm high velocity (HV) munitions from Rheinmetall Denel Munition achieve a velocity of 240 m/s and possess an effective range of 2,200 meters. The High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP) serves as a versatile ammunition type. On one side, it exhibits a robust fragmentation and shrapnel impact against soft targets, while as a shaped charge, it can also engage lightly armored targets or fortified positions, boasting a penetration capability of 50mm RHA (Rolled Homogeneous Armour).
Rheinmetall’s extensive product range in the 40mm caliber also features 40x46mm Low Velocity and 40x51mm Medium Velocity munitions suitable for various operational scenarios. Additionally, it incorporates fire control systems and weaponry designed for grenade gunners.
For Rheinmetall Denel Munition, this framework agreement represents another commercial achievement in a NATO member nation. It further validates the Rheinmetall subsidiary’s expertise as a systems provider for indirect fire, delivering innovative and dependable solutions founded on proprietary technologies.
