The German Bundeswehr has inked a deal with Rheinmetall to secure medium-calibre ammunition for its Puma infantry fighting vehicles.
Under an existing framework agreement, the Bundeswehr has issued a call-off for the procurement of several hundred thousand rounds of 30mm x 173 DM21 service ammunition, with the order surpassing €350 million.
Rheinmetall stated that the fulfillment of the order, commencing delivery this year and extending through 2027, is contingent upon the demonstrated perfect functionality of the acquired ammunition.
Rheinmetall is a key supplier of ammunition for the Bundeswehr’s Puma infantry fighting vehicles, providing two main types of 30mm x 173 service ammunition: the KETF DM21 (airburst) and the KE DM33 (armour-piercing), along with the DM58 practice round.
According to Rheinmetall, the KETF DM21, or Kinetic Energy Time Fuse, provides reliable programming, enabling the Puma to engage larger soft and semi-hard targets. The KE DM33, belonging to the new generation of subcalibre Armor Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot – Tracer (APFSDS-T) ammunition, effectively penetrates modern armor at small impact angles and long ranges. Rheinmetall states that with these ammunition types, the Puma can successfully tackle a wide range of targets.
