GDR 99 - Weapons Systems

Expert Combination


Section Articles
• A New Generation of Mortar • Expert Combination: Krauss-Maffei • The Defence Supermarket • Making Tracks: the FCS/Tracer • Centre of Excellence: Mauser • Big Guns Given Greater Mobility • Man With a Plan: Herstal • On Top of the Action: Delco • Crusader on Target in 1999 • Special Application Rifles • Fuchs Fuses for Fighting Forces • Revolutionary: the OICW • Revolution in US Small Arms • SADARM: Smart Submunition
Top: The Leopard 2 MBT is in service in seven European countries

Krauss-Maffei Wehrtechnik GmbH, headquartered in Munich, is now at the heart of a new European armoured vehicle giant.

As a prime contractor and systems engineering company, Krauss-Maffei is responsible for the development and production of complex weapon systems. Its key products, the MBT Leopard 2 and the MBT Leopard 1 and the Gepard and CA 1 anti-aircraft tanks, hold top positions by international standards. In all cases, the premier customer is the German army that defined the concept of the products.

Almost 5,000 MBT Leopard 1 have been produced and introduced into service in nine NATO countries and Australia, a success story that has been continued with the MBT Leopard 2 that is in service in seven European countries where more than 3,000 vehicles are referred to as the Euro Leopard 2. The latest version, the MBT Stridsvagn 122, is currently in service in Sweden. The Gepard and CA 1 anti-aircraft tanks are in use with three NATO countries.

In fulfilling all these major programmes, Krauss-Maffei proved its ability to co-operate on an international scale by integrating the defence contractors of the partner countries into the development and production processes. Krauss-Maffei is also a supplier of equipment to other service branches. For instance, the folding roadway system has been delivered to the German army, and to France and the Netherlands; and the Leguan bridge-laying system mounted on the Leopard 1 chassis is being produced for Norway.

The range of services offered by Krauss-Maffei includes concept definition, development, modernisation and series production of armoured vehicles as well as their support during the in-service phase. System responsibility relates to vehicles and to all industrial products and services required for operation and maintenance of the weapon system. Services are completed in close co-operation with other qualified German and foreign companies in the subsystem and component sector.

Development activities


The future European multi-role armoured vehicle MRAV VBCI GTK has been selected as a development concept by the German, French and UK ordinance boards

Krauss-Maffei is facing up to the challenges of its time and to the requirements of military users. Analyses, concept studies and development activities for future armed forces needs are performed on both software and hardware products. And for many years Krauss-Maffei has been active in the field of research and development of lightly armoured tracked and wheeled vehicles.

In the tracked-vehicle sector, development programmes have included revolutionary design solutions for noise and vibration damping as well as new manufacturing technologies for vehicle structures and new design approaches for armour protection. In the wheeled-vehicle sector, the range of products and services include medium- armoured vehicles such as the all-protected carrier vehicle (APCV), a highly mobile, mine-protected vehicle, and the future European multi-role armoured vehicle MRAV/VBCI/GTK, selected as a development concept by the German, French, and UK ordnance boards. The concept of this vehicle is characterised by its innovative and consistent modular construction featuring pioneering technologies in vehicle structure and protection. It is expected that approximately 6,000 vehicles will be produced for the land forces of western Europe. Krauss-Maffei will be the leading contractor in the GTK Euro-consortium that will be responsible for the development and production of this vehicle.

Experienced consortium


The bridge laying system, Leguan, on the Lepart 1 chassis, is being produced for Norway

The consortium consists of GKN Defence of Great Britain, Giat Industries of France and German groups MaK Systemgesellschaft mbH, Wegmann & Co. GmbH and Rheinmetall Industrie AG. The consortium's wealth of experience in the field of armoured vehicles and the know-how of the German and European partners will guarantee a successful vehicle for European armed forces.

Add-on armour for truck drivers' cabins for protection against artillery fragments, direct fire and AP mines are a further speciality. Protection technology ranging from heavy armour for combat vehicles to non-metallic materials for lightweight vehicles has become an important factor for modern armies that is being addressed by Krauss-Maffei. Krauss-Maffei has used simulation technology from its very earliest stages and now supplies simulators for a large number of military and civil training applications. Product improvement, new development activities in traditional lines of business and the systematic use of the company's technical, sales, management and service potential in defence and commercial areas has been successful and has consolidated Krauss-Maffei's position as a leading contractor for army equipment.


Link: www.krauss-maffei.de

On 1 January 1999, Krauss-Maffei and Wegmann & Co Gmbh KG, Kassel merged to form Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG (KMW). By forming this joint venture the expertise of Krauss-Maffei and Wegmann, leading companies in the armoured-vehicle sector, will be further strengthened and the new company's market position greatly improved. And by merging the development and production potentials of both companies, future requirements in the field of light and heavy armoured vehicles can be covered. For customers, a number of advantages arise from this new development. KMW will continue to be the main contractor for the Leopard family of vehicles and for the Howitzer 2000. The key factors that govern the design and production of tracked armoured vehicles, including the main components such as the chassis - previously the concern of Krauss-Maffei - and the turret, that would have been supplied by Wegmann, will be the responsibility of the new supplier. The expertise of both companies will combine to ensure a new level of competence and security.