The Bundeswehr has placed a significant new order with Rheinmetall for 30mm ammunition, valued at several hundred million euros. This procurement falls under an extended framework contract originally established in December 2022, solidifying the German defence giant’s role as a primary supplier to its national armed forces.
The overarching framework agreement, which extends through 2029, now encompasses the delivery of several hundred thousand 30mm x 173 calibre cartridges for the Puma Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV), with a total potential volume of approximately one billion euros. The latest call-off under this contract, for a medium six-figure quantity of ammunition, highlights the ongoing efforts to bolster the Bundeswehr’s operational readiness.
This substantial order is part of a broader push to strengthen Germany’s armoured capabilities, which recently included a commission for 200 additional Puma IFVs to Rheinmetall and KNDS Deutschland. The Puma’s primary armament is the Rheinmetall MK30-2/ABM automatic cannon, a system renowned for its high rate of fire and advanced, programmable airburst munition technology. With an effective range exceeding 2,000 metres, it provides formidable firepower against ground, aerial, and maritime targets.
For the Puma, Rheinmetall supplies two key types of combat ammunition: the programmable KE-TF DM21 (Kinetic Energy Time Fuse) and the KE DM33. Both cartridges are developed to the latest standards, offering exceptional reliability, precision, and penetration. The programmable KE-TF round is particularly versatile, enabling the Puma to effectively engage larger soft-skin and semi-hardened targets, as well as the growing threat posed by unmanned aerial systems (drones).
The order underscores a strategic priority for the Bundeswehr: replenishing and expanding its ammunition reserves in response to the evolving European security landscape. Rheinmetall, as a world leader in medium-calibre ammunition production, is central to this effort. This continued partnership not only ensures the lethality and reliability of the Puma fleet but also reinforces the industrial capacity and technological edge of Germany’s defence sector.
