03 Jul 25. Rheinmetall wins major order for artillery ammunition – order value in the hundreds of millions of euros. A European NATO country has signed a multi-year contract with Rheinmetall’s subsidiary Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RF) Pty Ltd (RDM) in South Africa for the delivery of 155 mm projectiles from the Assegai family and bimodular propelling charges. The order was booked in the second quarter of 2025 and is worth several hundred million euros. Deliveries will begin in 2025 and conclude with final delivery in 2027. The order is the largest in the history of Rheinmetall Denel Munition. The Rheinmetall Assegai 155mm projectiles and bi-modular propelling charges will be integrated into the customer’s artillery weapon systems, delivering range capability of more than 40,000m with optimal performance in the target area.
“The Rheinmetall Assegai user group is growing rapidly across the globe, and we are delighted that another customer has now also selected Rheinmetall Assegai to be delivered fast and in volume.” says Dr. Frank Dirksen, CEO of Rheinmetall Denel Munition.
Capacity
Rheinmetall continue to invest heavily into capacity enhancement of existing facilities and establishing new manufacturing facilities which provide the ability to serve the growing demand for modern 155mm projectiles and charges. Rheinmetall is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of large-calibre ammunition. The Düsseldorf-based Technology Corporation Rheinmetall has been increasing its production capacity since 2022, and aims at producing around 1.5 m 155 mm artillery shells per year by 2027.
Technology
The Assegai suite of projectiles and Charges are qualified and in-service with multiple user nations, providing interoperability and a fast-track integration into service. The Assegai projectile suite consist of ballistically matched High Explosive, Illumination, Infrared Illumination, Smoke, Pre-formed Fragmented (PFF) and Rocket-Assisted (V-LAP) projectiles.
South African Economic Benefit
“Rheinmetall Denel Munition is a proud member of the South African defence industry, employing more than 2,500 workers across South Africa. Major multi-year contracts like this provide us the ability to continue on our growth path which contribute directly to the South African economy.” says Dr. Dirksen.
About Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM)
Rheinmetall Denel Munition (Pty) Ltd is jointly owned by Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH (51 %) of Germany and Denel (Pty) Ltd. South Africa.
Rheinmetall Denel Munition (Pty) Ltd specialises in the development, design and manufacture of large- and medium-calibre ammunition families and is a world leader in the field of artillery, mortar and infantry systems as well as plant engineering.
Rheinmetall Denel Munition (Pty) Ltd invest and support more than 1,500 domestic suppliers including SMME’s which benefit more than 250,000 South Africans.
02 Jul 25. SIG SAUER Celebrates Major Milestone: 100m Round Annual 6.8mm Ammunition Capacity. American Manufacturing Creates Economic Growth for Arkansas. SIG SAUER, a leading U.S. defense manufacturer and proud ammunition partner to the U.S. military, achieved the milestone of 100m 6.8mm round annual capacity at its state-of-the-art facilities in Jacksonville, Arkansas. SIG SAUER is invested in continual increases to overall capacity, paving the way to double output over the next few years. This achievement solidifies SIG SAUER’s pivotal role in supporting the U.S. Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) Program, delivering transformational 6.8mm ammunition to equip America’s warfighters with unmatched velocity and lethality. This milestone reflects SIG SAUER’s significant capital investments in advanced machining, innovative technology, and cutting-edge equipment at its Jacksonville, AR facilities. Leveraging automation and novel manufacturing techniques, SIG SAUER is home to some of the most modern ammunition production capabilities in the world. Since breaking ground in Arkansas 2017, SIG SAUER invested over $225M in facilities and equipment, bringing over 675 jobs into the state with an overall economic impact of $300M annually. “This incredible accomplishment proves what we already know: Arkansas is an arsenal for democracy,” said Governor Sanders. “Congratulations, SIG SAUER – I’m proud that you chose Arkansas to plant your roots and continue to deliver on your commitment to our workforce, community, and Arkansans’ right to keep and bear arms.”
SIG SAUER’s infrastructure ensures a sustainable, high-volume production of 6.8mm ammunition while maintaining output for legacy calibers such as 5.56mm and 7.62mm as well as a complete pistol ammunition line. “Achieving 100 m rounds of 6.8mm ammunition capacity is a proud moment for SIG SAUER and our all-American workforce in Arkansas,” said Sean McGee, Vice President, Ammunition Operations. “Our 6.8mm ammunition, paired with the M7 and M250 rifles, delivers unmatched performance to meet the demands of today’s battlefield. We are honored to lead the way in modernizing small-arms technology and building the arsenal of the future.”
Located in Jacksonville, Arkansas, the SIG SAUER ammunition plant encompasses six extensive facilities on a 100+ acre campus, serving as a hub for innovation and production, highlighting SIG SAUER’s commitment to R&D and technological advancement. Our latest state-of-the-art addition to the SIG SAUER Arkansas ammunition campus, a 210,000 square ft. facility, is designed to significantly boost production capabilities and facilitate high volume precision manufacturing of new 6.8mm ammunition. This advanced structure is strategically equipped with high-capacity production lines, which enable the facility to achieve an output of 100 m rounds of 6.8mm ammunition per year, with continual increases to overall capacity, paving the way to double output over the next few years. (Source: ASD Network)
27 Jun 25. Astor Defence and BAE Systems agree TNT deal for munitions programmes. The global demand for explosive material has surged as the US and European countries seek to replenish stockpiles donated to Ukraine.
Leading Guide to Ammunition and Fuses for the Land Defence Industry
The document includes detailed information on the manufacturers and suppliers and their products, along with contact details, to inform your purchasing decision. According to a 26 June release from Astor Defence, the long-term supply agreement will see the company deliver TNT, compliant with MIL-DTL-248D specification, to BAE Systems to support “large-scale munitions programmes”. Astor Defence provides TNT, RDX, HMX, C4, and Nitrocellulose to various defence agencies and commercial users across the globe.
Henry Turnbull, CEO of Astor Defence, said the deal “reflected” the company’s commitment in supplying “defence grade energetics at scale” to defence organisations.
The recent announcement with BAE Systems follows a 2024 agreement to supply Norwegian-Finnish defence provider Nammo with TNT for the production of 155mm artillery shells, a munition in high demand in recent years following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Although the quantity of TNT to be supplied to BAE Systems as part of the newly announced partnership was not revealed, the earlier Nammo deal was for “thousands of tons”.
Astor Defence had previously said it had “spare capacity” for TNT supply through 2025.
BAE Systems meanwhile is embarking on an expansion of its own munitions facilities in order to meet UK and international requirements.
Munitions programmes stretched by demand
A number of reports by think tanks and analysts, including by GlobalData, have revealed the immense strain placed on global supply chains as an intensifying rearmament race, driven by geopolitical tensions and escalating defence budget, necessitates defence investment. Key among this has been Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the subsequent support provided to Kyiv by Western allies, which have provided ms of artillery rounds, among other defence equipment including heavy armour and air defence systems. The provision of munitions in such quantities has left national stocks depleted, with fears Russia could seek to exploit any weakness among European powers. The UK confirmed in 2024 that it had donated 400,000 artillery shells to Ukraine and had earlier inked deals with companies such as BAE Systems to increase munitions production. Similarly, companies like Rheinmetall and KNDS in Europe are forging ahead with new production lines to meet the escalating demand. In late-2024 the UK Ministry of Defence detailed a multi-year procurement framework to secure high explosive material to support Ukrainian demand for warheads, artillery, and other weapons, amid a global bottleneck in munitions production, under Task Force Kindred. (Source: army-technology.com)