Wirkmittel-90 / Matador / RGW-90 - Program
The MATADOR was developed jointly by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), in collaboration with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Dynamit Nobel Defence (DND) joint team.
It is an updated version of the German-Singaporean Armbrust design, and operates on the same principles. The development of this weapon began in 2000 and the MATADOR will eventually replace the German-Singaporean Armbrust Light Anti-tank Weapon, which has been in service since the 1980s.
Dynamit Nobel Defense (DND) has been supplying the 90 mm Wirkmittel [Active Agent] to the Bundeswehr’s special forces since the end of 2016. The German Army ordered 1,000 MATADOR-AS under the name RGW90 AS with scalable anti-structure munition.[8] The German Army also uses the LRMP version (range: 1,200 meters) under the designation "Wirkmittel 90". In late 2020, the German Army ordered 3,000 cartridges in different munition types for the Wirkmittel 90.
The project to create a reactive anti-tank grenade launcher Matador started at the end of the 1990s. Its implementation took place in cooperation of specialized enterprises from Germany, Singapore and Israel, inclluding Dynamit Nobel Defence GmbH and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd./IL. By the way, the abbreviation MATADOR is derived from the phrase Man-portable Anti-Tank, Anti-Ship". The main task of the project was to manufacture a grenade launcher capable of hitting armored objects and breaching buildings. In the Bundeswehr, it was supposed to replace its outdated "brother" - the Armbrust grenade launcher ("Crossbow"). First, a 60 mm sample was created, and later an improved 90 mm version was produced on its basis. In Germany, it received an additional index RGW90 (Recoilless Grenade Weapon), which indicates the class and caliber of the product.
Dynamit Nobel Defense supplies the RGW90 portable missile launcher. The Belgian Armed Forces procured several batches of the RGW90 HEAT/HESH shoulder-launched multipurpose weapon and training ammunition for RGW-90 subcaliber trainer systems with a total value of around 19 million euros. According to a press release from the manufacturer Dynamit Nobel Defense (DND), the order was placed by the NATO procurement authority NSPA at the end of 2021. This is the first order that the German specialist for shoulder-launched armament for the RGW 90 has handled through the NSPA. As a result of the implementation by the NSPA, it is now also possible for other interested parties to join the procurement on the terms agreed with Belgium without having to start a lengthy procurement project themselves.
The RGW 90 anti-tank weapon system entered service with the Slovenian Armed Forces in January 2008 and is also operational with the German Armed Forces. The British Army took delivery of the RGW 90 AS in March 2010. In January 2013, the Belgian Ministry of Defence announced its intension to buy 111 RGW 90 AS weapons with projectiles and sighting systems for the Belgian Army. The RGW 90 is also in service with the armed forces of Singapore and Israel under the name MATADOR (Man-portable Anti-Tank, Anti-DOoR).
Under an April 2021 teaming agreement, General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (OTS) will collaborate with Dynamit Nobel Defence GmbH (DND) to present a Recoilless Grenade Weapon series to the U.S. DoD market. This Recoilless Grenade Weapon series will be centered around DND’s 60mm (RGW60) and 90mm (RGW90) variants.
“Fostering strategic relationships is key to delivering the best combat capability to the warfighter, we look forward to building on this commitment with our colleagues at DND. We will leverage our tactical air munitions expertise with DND’s 60 years of experience in the development and production of shoulder-launched weapons for anti-armor and multipurpose missions,” said Eric Ellis, Vice President and General Manager of Precision Systems at General Dynamics-OTS.
“We at Dynamit Nobel Defence couldn’t be more excited about this opportunity to partner with General Dynamics-OTS in the field of cutting-edge shoulder-launched munitions. By combining both companies’ collective expertise and by working together as a team, we will make sure that the proven RGW series can be brought to the warfighter by a strong and reliable U.S. supply chain,” said Michael Humbek, CEO of DND.
Kiev ordered 2900 of a variant for urban warfare - the warhead can knock out tanks and at the same time crack through walls and bunkers. After the Panzerfaust 3, Ukraine will receive 2,650 RGW90 anti-tank weapons from Germany. While the Panzerfaust was supplied from the Bundeswehr stocks, the RGW90 comes directly from the manufacturer Dynamit Nobel Defense (DND). Nobel also makes the Panzerfaust 3. Both systems are not anti-tank guided missiles that track their target independently like Javelin, TOW or the older Milan system. The shooter must aim, fire and hit the target.
Ukraine's Armed Forces will receive more anti-armour weapon systems from Germany, according to the Milirarnyi. On 29 March 2022, Milirarnyi reported that the Ukrainian Army would soon receive German Wirkmittel RGW90 multi-purpose shoulder-launched weapons, also known as MATADOR. The German Ministry of Economy agreed on a request for export to Ukraine on 18 March 2022.
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