“Rheinmetall and Honeywell Unite: Pioneering a Bold New Tech Frontier”
The Düsseldorf-headquartered tech conglomerate Rheinmetall and the U.S. manufacturing giant Honeywell have formalized a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to initiate strategic collaboration across various sectors of technology. The two firms plan to work together on innovative visual systems and auxiliary power units for vehicles, among other initiatives.
Armin Papperger, Chief Executive Officer of Rheinmetall AG, commented: “From auxiliary power units and visual solutions to smart building automation, the spectrum of potential collaboration areas for our two organizations is extensive. We are appreciative of partnering with Honeywell, considering their extensive legacy of innovation and diverse technological offerings.”
Matt Milas, President of Defense and Space at Honeywell Aerospace, stated: “We are thrilled to join forces with Rheinmetall AG to integrate our advanced technologies to bolster the missions of our allies globally. Both new and existing initiatives will gain from our combined efforts in development, production, and support across a comprehensive range of international defense platforms.”
Together, the companies aim to innovate new visual systems that capitalize on the current functionalities of the Honeywell 360 Display, a driver vision technology featuring an array of thermal imaging and daylight cameras strategically positioned around the vehicle. This system utilizes augmented and mixed reality through glasses mounted on a driver’s helmet, enhancing situational awareness and granting a 360-degree perspective—regardless of visibility through windows or periscopes. The Honeywell 360 Display is set to significantly enhance the capabilities of existing fleets of tactical vehicles, such as the Marder infantry fighting vehicle, as well as future developments of advanced weapon systems.
Honeywell and Rheinmetall are also planning to collaborate on auxiliary power units deployed in tactical wheeled and tracked vehicles when stationed and not actively in motion. Auxiliary power units significantly enhance the operational duration and readiness of turret systems while maintaining a minimal thermal and acoustic signature. These units serve as a complement to battery storage and are invaluable for stationary operations, including the safeguarding of critical infrastructure or facilities.
The envisioned strategic collaboration also seeks to investigate additional areas of partnership between the two companies, including localized maintenance and support for other Honeywell products installed on vital platforms utilized by the Bundeswehr.
By integrating their combined assets, Rheinmetall and Honeywell aim to pursue joint ventures in industrial high-energy applications, particularly in building automation (e.g., climate control, lighting, access systems) and comprehensive thermal management. The firms will examine how a compact solution consisting of a high-efficiency battery paired with an auxiliary power unit and a cooling apparatus could meet the electrical energy needs, including heat dissipation, for forthcoming weapon systems.
Rheinmetall and Honeywell are also engaged in discussions regarding closer cooperation concerning capabilities in counter-unmanned aircraft systems (cUAS) and electronic warfare. As the collaboration advances, the execution of specific initiatives will be detailed in the upcoming weeks and months.
