Rheinmetall AG is a German automotive and defense company with factories in Düsseldorf, Kassel and Unterlüß.History
It was founded on 13 April 1889 by Heinrich Ehrhardt, with help from a consortium of banks, as Rheinische Metallwaren- und Maschinenfabrik Aktiengesellschaft.
It has a long tradition of making guns and artillery pieces. The company is also involved in a variety of advanced metal-working and milling technologies. This has allowed it to provide special high-quality components for small arms in addition to its heavy weapon production.
In 1993 Rheinmetall acquired the Mauser AG and in 1996 and 1999 the majority share-holdings of STN Atlas and Oerlikon Contraves, all of which are major European defense companies. STN Atlas was later split into Atlas Elektronik and Rheinmetall Defence Electronics, the latter is now a full subsidiary of Rheinmetall.
In March 2008, Rheinmetall acquired Dutch defence company Stork PKV.
Rheinmetall made bomb fuses during World War II, notably a double-capacitor design which was particularly dangerous to defuse should the bomb not explode on impact. Many bomb disposal personnel were killed. The patent for the fuse was filed in the UK two years before Hitler came to power and the UK Armed Forces spotted this and the patent then helped enormously with disarming these particular bombs. The US Patent Office put a 32-year secrecy order on a similar patent by the University of Illinois in 1948.
The MG 42, the general-purpose medium machine gun of the Wehrmacht, was also built by Rheinmetall. Its successor, the MG3, is still used by the Bundeswehr.
Military products, examples include:
Modern
Rheinmetall 120mm Gun: both the L44 and L55 versions which arm the Leopard 2, M1A1 and A2 and Type 90 MBT
Rheinmetall M35: 105 mm main gun of the M8 Armored Gun System
155 mm L52 Artillery Gun: main gun of PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer
MG3: 7.62 mm universal machine gun
RMK30: a 30 mm recoilless, caseless autocannon
Rheinmetall LTA2: main gun of TAM tank
MK 20 Rh202: 20 mm autocannon, primary armament of Marder, Luchs and Wiesel armoured fighting vehicles
Rheinmetall 20mm Twin Anti-Aircraft Cannon: anti-aircraft gun
GDM-008 Millennium: 35 mm naval air-defence gun
Skyguard: 35 mm air-defence gun system
Skyshield: 35 mm air-defence gun system
MANTIS (counter rocket, artillery and mortar): very short range air-defence system
MLG 27: 27 mm remote controlled autocannon, used on many ships of the German Navy
AGF (Light infantry vehicle)
Rheinmetall YAK: armoured wheeled vehicle
Wiesel AWC: armoured weapons carrier in different versions
GTK Boxer: multirole armoured vehicle
Puma (IFV): next generation infantry fighting vehicle of the German Army
TPz Fuchs: multirole armoured vehicle
LeFlaSys: light air-defence missile system, based on Wiesel 2
Jacket cradle of Oto Melara
KZO: tactical UAV
IdZ-ES: The German Bundeswehr's Future Soldier program
Nanuk Remotely Controlled Weapon Station (Rheinmetall Defence Canada)
Amarok Remotely Controlled Weapon Station (Rheinmetall Defence Canada)
Qimek Remotely Controlled Weapon Station (Rheinmetall Defence Canada)
NBC protection systems
Ammunition
Cargo loading and aviation systems
Simulators
NBC reconnaissance systems
Mobile Power Distribution Systems (MPDS)
WWII and pre-WWII Products
QF 15 pounder: field gun sold to Britain in 1900
7.5cm Kwk 42 (L/70): tank gun that was used in the famed German Panther tank of World War II
7.5 cm Leichtgeschütz 40: recoilless gun predominantly used by paratroops during World War II
88 on the Russian front.
88 mm gun: Flak and anti-tank gun of World War II
Solothurn S-18/1000: 20 mm Anti-Tank rifle
Rheinmetall MK 108: well-known WWII 30 mm
In fiction
The Rheinmetall company name appears in some science fiction role-playing games, including Cyberpunk 2020 and the computer role-playing game Fallout.
Rheinmetall AG
Type Public (FWB : RHMG)
Founded 13 April 1889
Founder(s) Heinrich Ehrhardt
Headquarters Düsseldorf, Germany
Industry Automotive
Defence
Products Automotive parts
Military Vehicles and Systems
Revenue €4 Billion (2007)
Operating income €270 Million (2007)
Net income €150 Million (2007)
Employees 19,185 (2007)
Website www.Rheinmetall.com
