Rheinmetall contracted by Bundeswehr for 40 mm automatic grenade launcher ammo

The German Bundeswehr has placed two separate orders with Rheinmetall for production and supply of 40 mm ammunition for automatic grenade launchers, the company announced on 5 February 2024.

Rheinmetall will thus be supplying tens of thousands of programmable 40 mm × 53 Airburst Munition (ABM) DM131 service cartridges. This order is worth around EUR 29.5 million, including value added tax.

The Bundeswehr has also placed an order for around 200,000 rounds of 40 mm × 53 Üb DM158 practice ammunition worth around EUR 7.18 million, once again including VAT. Delivery of the ammunition is due to be completed in 2024.

Rheinmetall is one of the world’s leading suppliers of ammunition, weapon systems and fire control and aiming technology. The company’s 40 mm × 53 high-velocity ammunition can be fired from any standard 40 mm automatic grenade launcher. The rounds attain a maximum velocity of more than 240 m/s and have a maximum effective range of 2,200 m.

Rheinmetall’s 40mm × 53 ABM round, which the Bundeswehr refers to as the DM131, is qualified for use by the German armed forces and is also used by other NATO forces. Because it can be timed to detonate in the air, the DM131 round can be used to engage troops taking cover behind walls and other prepared positions.

Rheinmetall stated in its press release that the ammunition types now on order “are unequalled worldwide in terms of combat effectiveness and precision”, adding that their design “fully corresponds to the stipulations contained in the European directive covering the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH)”.