Rheinmetall to supply high-tech armoured vehicle to the Bundeswehr
"Wiesel 2 Mobile Command Post" for Special Operations Forces
07/08/2004
Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH of Kiel has been awarded a contract to supply the German Army with 32 airportable "Wiesel 2 Mobile Command Post" light armoured vehicles. The contract is worth some €31 million. These high-tech vehicles will be delivered over a two-year period starting mid 2005.
The recently concluded contract includes an option for a further 16 vehicles for delivery in 2008. Back in April 2004, Rheinmetall Landsysteme, a subsidiary of the Düsseldorf-based Rheinmetall DeTec group, had already received a €4 million-order for four Wiesel 2 vehicle configured for combat engineer reconnaissance operations.
The network-supported capabilities of the "Wiesel 2 Mobile Command Post" will enable the German Army's Special Operations Forces to carry out specific decentralised command tasks and computer-supported operations, as well as assuring the flow of information to other command elements. This will be the sixth version of the highly versatile Wiesel 2 to be delivered to the Bundeswehr since 1996.
In line with its mission, the latest variant of the Wiesel will be packed with state-of-the-art electronics. Transportable by air using a CH 53 G cargo helicopter as well as offer high mobility in all types of terrain, the Wiesel 2 meets the key requirement of rapid deployability.
The combat engineer reconnaissance version of the Wiesel 2 – already in the process of being fielded – and the future mobile command post system will plug a gap in the capabilities spectrum of the airmobile forces of the Bundeswehr, which have since been consolidated in the Division of Special Operations (DSO).
The vehicles will be produced at Rheinmetall Landsysteme's Unterlüß plant, thus making a key contribution to capacity utilisation and the preservation of the company's highly developed expertise in this field. The contract also encompasses the manufacture and supply of special tools, training materials and spare parts, as well as the creation of an interactive electronic technical documentation (IETD) system.
Rheinmetall Landsysteme is one of the world's leading makers of tracked and wheeled armoured vehicles, NBC reconnaissance systems and comprehensive armour and protection concepts. Having already supplied some 8,000 tracked and wheeled armoured vehicles – among them the Fuchs/Fox, Wiesel and Luchs – Rheinmetall Landsysteme can point to unsurpassed experience and expertise in its field.
Contact
Rheinmetall AG
Corporate Sector Defence
Press and Information
Oliver Hoffmann
Rheinmetall Platz 1
40476 Düsseldorf
Germany
Phone: +49 211 473-4748
Fax: +49 211 473-4157
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