Ammunition
Infantry ammunition
The 40 mm ammunition family developed by Diehl Defence for engagement of infantry targets, comprises various types of live cartridges for use in handguns and automatic grenade launchers. Depending on the ammunition type, targets under and behind cover can also be engaged at ranges of more than 2000 meters. The hollow-charge projectile DM72 IM, successor of the cartridge 40 mm x 53 HE-DP-T DM42 IM, penetrates armor steel with a thickness of up to 70 mm. The installed high-performance fuzes with pyrotechnical self-destruction avoiding unexploded duds rules out risks for soldiers and civilians during and after combat operations. The exclusive use of insensitive explosives prevents detonation of ammunition in the case of enemy shelling or fire, thus helping to protect soldiers in combat.
Gun ammunition calibers 76 mm and 127 mm
Guns are part of the standard armament of modern naval vessels. Besides modern conventional solutions, Diehl Defence is offering an innovative, self-guiding projectile.
For decades, the 76 mm ammunition used by 20 navies worldwide has proved its effectiveness in the field. An enhanced version with insensitive explosives increases on-board safety.
Diehl’s 127 mm full-caliber as well as the 127 mm VULCANO guided ammunition, developed in cooperation with the Italian industrial partner Leonardo, are new products. Both ammunition types can be used to engage sea and land targets at long ranges. Thus, both types are suited for joint tactical fire support operations.
Small wings initially control the VULCANO V127 ammunition by satellite navigation and later on, during terminal approach, by means of a laser or infrared seeker, thus providing highest precision for point target engagement even in case of moving targets. Both conventional and guided 127 mm ammunition types have been selected for use on the German Navy's new frigates (F125).
Guided ammunition Vulcano – a product of German-Italian cooperation
In order to provide armed forces in the future with the capability to engage stationary single targets as well as moving targets at long distances with pin-point accuracy, Diehl Defence has developed, together with its industrial partner LEONARDO, the new guided artillery ammunition VULCANO. The ammunition family combines highest target accuracy with the unique option of mission abort after firing for this kind of ammunition.
The combination of satellite-based navigation with laser- or infrared-sensor control makes VULCANO one of the most accurate artillery ammunitions worldwide.
VULCANO is being offered as 155 mm caliber for army artillery and 127 mm for navies. The 155 mm-caliber version can be fired from the self-propelled howitzer 2000 (PzH2000), the FH-70 and M-777-A2 field howitzers as well as from the CAESAR and M109 self-propelled howitzers. The 127 mm version can be employed in 127 mm/64 light-weight und 127 mm/54 compact naval guns installed, for example, on the ship types Frigate F125, Multi-Purpose Frigate FREMM and destroyer MEKO 360
