Rheinmetall increases Hero loitering munition production
Hero LM production has been increased at Rheinmetall's Italian subsidiary RWM Italia's sites in Musei and Domusnovas in Sardinia. (Rheinmetall)
Rheinmetall announced in a press release on 8 October that it has “significantly expanded” loitering munition (LM) production, with the completion a few months ago of a modern production facility for the assembly, testing, and warhead production as well as the integration of LMs.
The company reported a high rate of production at its Italian subsidiary RWM Italia's sites in Musei and Domusnovas in Sardinia under a co-operation project between Rheinmetall and UVision Air Ltd. A Rheinmetall spokesperson told Janes on 9 October that the two sites have existed for some time and that his company expanded Hero production there from low double digits to several hundred per month. Production can be increased considerably, depending on the type of LM, he added.
The production line at Rheinmetall's plant in Musei assembles and tests inert and electronic components, while the warheads are manufactured and integrated into the munitions at the company's plant in Domusnovas.
Their current product range includes Hero 30 small portable LMs for infantry use, Hero 120 medium-sized LMs for precision strikes against armoured vehicles and fixed installations, and Hero 400 medium/long-range LMs for precision strikes against fortified positions.
The current order backlog totals more than EUR200 million (USD231 million) for various types of Hero LMs to be delivered to eight NATO and non-NATO countries in Europe.
The Rheinmetall spokesperson would not name the countries for contractual reasons but said that his company would increase production at other sites or new ones.
For more information, please seeRheinmetall and UVision agree strategic partnership on loitering munition .
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