Rheinmetall and KNDS to equip 10.000 Bundeswehr vehicles with digital radio equipment

(To Rheinmetall)
20/12/24

The ArGe D-LBO consortium (Working Group for the Digitalization of Land Operations) consisting of KNDS Deutschland and Rheinmetall has been commissioned by the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw: Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr) to digitize the command and control systems of the land forces' vehicles. The total volume of the contract, which has a term of six years, is 1,98 billion euros gross. Rheinmetall receives half of this sum.

The "Digitalization of Land Operations" is one of the most important projects of the German Army in the field of state-of-the-art communications. The main focus of the IT conversion is on replacing radios with new D-LBO command radio transmitters and updating the software. This new IT system includes communication devices, computers, software, IT services and more. It enables real-time interconnection between platforms, soldiers and sensors, thus increasing operational capabilities and interoperability.

The contract includes all the activities necessary for the integration of the new digital radio transmitters and command and control systems through several sample integrations. The entire contract has been awarded to the ArGe D-LBO consortium, which will ensure the implementation of the project.

The series integration will begin in mid-2025 and will involve around 10.000 combat and support vehicles of the Bundeswehr. The conversion is expected to be completed by the end of 2030.

In parallel, a second contract was concluded with ArGe ISI (IT systems integration), which includes the integration of the IT systems of all vehicles and platforms of the land forces within the scope of the D-LBO project. The contract awarded to ArGe ISI, consisting of Rheinmetall and the company blackned GmbH, has a gross value of approximately 1,2 billion euros.

Photo: Bundeswehr