TDW, now an MBDA subsidiary, is restarting production of an anti-tank mine that originated in the 1990s and has been discontinued for more than a decade.

Designated the ‘Panzerabwehrrichtmine Deutsches Modell 22’, or PARM DM22, the system is a fully automated, off-route, anti-tank mine that can render Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) immobile.

The Bundeswehr signed a contract ordering 2,600 units on 14 November 2023, according to an MBDA press release from 15 November.

Although, the German Ministry of Defence (MoD) had previously announced its intention to acquire these systems again on 18 October 2023, the Government added that the contract would include an option for 10,000 more systems.

Serial production is expected to begin in 2026 while deliveries are scheduled for 2027, said Andreas Seitz, TDW’s managing director, during an international press event in Schrobenhausen, Germany.

Return of the PARM

PARM is already combat proven since the system entered the market two decades ago, but also more recently in Ukraine, where the MoD supplied 14,900 anti-tank mines (9,300 of them came from German inventory).

Dispelling any concerns that the system may be outdated, MBDA stated that “its warhead, fusing mechanism and sensor kit meet the technical and operational demands of today.” Seitz noted that “legacy systems can be upgraded.”

The next-generation system has a modular design, allowing operators to integrate infrared and radar sensors, seismic and acoustic sensors as well as a remote control.

“The order intake marks a first milestone of the ramp up of our production capacities. PARM strengthens TDW’s market position as a leading warhead company in Europe. We are convinced that PARM will help Germany, as well as other nations, develop and expand their area denial capabilities” Seitz commented in the release.