Rheinmetall has announced a $103.7m (€88m) contract from Bundeswehr, the unified German Armed Forces, to supply MELLS antitank guided missile system.
Bundeswehr placed the order with MELLS maker EuroSpike, a joint venture (JV) between Rheinmetall and its partners Diehl Defence and Rafael.
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Rheinmetall noted that additional 666 guided missiles and 82 integrated command and launch units will be delivered as part of the existing framework contract.
The framework contract concluded in October 2019. It includes an option for fabricating and supplying approximately 100 integrated command and launch units, and thousands of MELLS guided missiles during the 2024 to 2031 timeframe.
The company would keep receiving incoming orders in the three-digit million-euro range in total.
MELLS is a multirole-capable lightweight guided missile system ‘designed for engaging armoured ground targets’ at ranges of up to 4,000m, or 5,500m with the enhanced Rafael-made Spike long-range (LR) guided missile.
Delivery of the fourth lot of the guided-missile systems will take place between 2022-2024.
These systems are set aside for German infantry and mechanised infantry units.
In March 2018, Rheinmetall integrated the MELLS antitank guided missile into the Marder 1A5 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) operated by the German Army.
In January last year, Rheinmetall secured a €110m contract from Bundeswehr to carry out measures to extend the service life of Marder IFV.
MELLS is also being installed by an unknown contractor into the Wiesel airmobile weapon carrier.
