Germany has been under pressure to plug a short range air defense gap, now set to be filled by Air Defence System, Short and Very Short Range (LVS NNbS) equipment (Diehl Defence on X)
BELFAST — Germany’s defense procurement agency has signed a lucrative short range air defense development system deal with a three-party industry consortium, set to deliver highly sophisticated networked coverage, while plugging a glaring capability gap left all the more exposed by the war in Ukraine.
The $1.2 billion ($1.3 billion)
contract was issued today by the Federal Office for Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) to the German team of Rheinmetall, Diehl and Hensoldt, calling itself the Short and Very Short Range Air Defence System consortium, or ARGE NNbS.
The tech, collectively called Short and Very Short Range (LVS NNbS) equipment, will ensure that “Germany lives up to its role as NATO’s lead nation in ground-based air defence and the
European Sky Shield Initiative,” Rheinmetall said in a release.
It added that “the introduction of the LVS NNbS is a decisive step, closing one of the Bundeswehr’s significant capability gaps.”
Rheinmetall has been awarded €607 million ($658 million) in funding, while other ARGE NNbS contractors Diehl, a German guided missile manufacturer, and Hensoldt, a German sensor maker, received €339 ($368 million) and €284 ($308 million).
Prior to tender,
Rheinmetall said the ARGE NNbS “conceptual system design” on offer to Berlin would be mainly based on “proven systems and subsystems” including some already in German service.
“The core objective of the LVS NNbS development project is to optimize medium-range air defence as well as developing high-mobility air defence capabilities for protecting manoeuvre forces from aerial threats — even when on the move,” the company added today.
Similarly, BAAINBw said that LVS NNbS is “intended” to protect land forces against airborne threats and can also be used to prevent attacks on critical infrastructure, according to an
online translation.
It also noted prototypes of the system are due for qualification in 2027 so serial production can start in 2028.
To deliver on the new contract, ARGE NNbS will focus on successfully networking individual air defense components, complete integration of Diehl’s medium range IRIS T-SLM guided missile and expand intercept zone capability to include short range targets.
In June 2023, Berlin
decided to acquire six IRIS T-SLM fire units, with a first set to enter a qualification phase later this year, ahead of delivery to the German Air Force in mid-2025. Germany also expects to deliver an
additional four systems to Ukraine next year.
IRIS-T SLM has been designed to defend against fighter jets, helicopters, drones, cruise missiles and air to ground missiles.
LVS NNbS networking capabilities are meant to allow it to connect with the IRIS T-SLM fire units in addition to Rheinmetall’s Skyranger 35 mobile ground based air defence system, based around the 35mm Oerlikon Revolver Gun.
Cost of ARGE NNbS has not been without controversy, running into criticism by German
y‘s federal court of auditors because of a “five-fold” price increase, reported
Reuters.