The U.S. Department of Defense said Wednesday that Rheinmetall Day & Zimmermann Munitions (RDZM) received $8,802,640 modification for a contract to launch production of new 40mm ammunition.
The modification award from U.S. Army Contracting Command enables the RDZM, a joint venture between Day & Zimmermann and American Rheinmetall, to provide engineering and manufacturing development, low rate initial production, and full-rate production of the 40mm HV HEDP-AB XM1176 cartridge.
Work will be performed in Middletown, Iowa; and Stafford, Virginia, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 14, 2025.
The new XM1176 is a 40mm high velocity, HEDP (high-explosive, dual-purpose) impact type round designed to penetrate hardened steel plate and inflicts casualties in the target area. The cartridge is an anti-material round, fired from an automatic grenade launcher. It is lethal against armoured targets, structures and personnel.
The cartridge will provide the warfighter with the ability to achieve the required lethal effects against enemy personnel in the open, coupled with the capability to defeat personnel targets in defilade positions. Additionally, the XM1176 will be able to defeat unarmored and lightly armored vehicles.