Rheinmetall expands its' influence with new purchase

Rheinmetall has purchased Stork PWV from its' Dutch parent Stork NV.

"Stork PWV (has been) responsible for the Dutch share of the Boxer programme, which is worth around €500 million and encompasses the development and production of 200 vehicles for the Royal Netherlands Army. Rheinmetall is producing 85 of the 272 vehicles ordered by Germany's Bundeswehr, representing €212 million for the Dusseldorf-based company, which is also in charge of supplying the electronic components in all of the German and Dutch vehicles, generating an additional 60 million in sales."

This means Rheinmetall is now the majority shareholder (64% with the gain of Stork's 50%) in the Artec consortium that builds the Boxer armoured vehicle. This leaves Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) holding the remaining 36%.

Sources: Various and Rheinmetall Press Release

Major RFID hack appears

You may use an RFID pass to get on the subway or access your building.

The Netherlands' NXP Semiconductor is one of the world's leading suppliers of RFID systems. Researchers at Radboud University (Nijmegen) have become the second group to hack their MIFARE system. Literally billions of chips are out there from The Netherlands to the London Underground to Boston Transit to, perhaps, the building you enter every day.

The proprietary chip carries 48bit encryption and a replacement 128bit chip (Mifare Plus) is available, presumably at a higher cost.

How can the information be gathered? Why there's a convenient video on YouTube ...

Sources: As cited and PC World

Sweden joins the Dutch on Geniepanzer purchase

In December we covered The Netherlands purchase of new Armoured Engineer Vehicles (AEVs). According to Defense Industry Daily the news is that Sweden has now opted in on the deal.

The Dutch and Swedish platforms are aiming for over 90% compatibility with obvious exceptions such as radios. The total order amounts to EUR 100 million for supplier Rheinmetall with 10 systems for the Dutch and 6 for the Swedish Army. Delivery is set for 2011 & 2012.

Source: As cited

Netherlands extends Afghan mission

The Dutch government has announced that it will extend its' current Afghan mission to August 2010. Legislative hearings and presentations will be held December 6th and 7th.

As part of the extension there will be a troop reduction of 300 from the current approximately 1,650. The total estimated cost of their mission is expected to be 1 billion euros.

Source: NIS

New AEVs For the Netherlands

The Dutch military have announced the purchase of 10 Kodiak Armoured Engineer Vehicles. This is a RUAG and Rheinmetall collaboration based on the Leopard 2 platform. The Dutch will partner with Sweden (6 units) on the deal to achieve unknown economic benefits

"The armoured engineer vehicle (AEV 3) - KODIAK is a multifunctional, top-modern equipment which enables the combat engineers to fulfil the requirements in the scope of the combat engineering.

The vehicle concept is based on the modification of pre-used chassis of main battle tanks Leopard 2 and it features the following main implements:

• Dozer system with quick die change equipment for the implements (e.g. dozer blade, universal calmshell and concrete cutter)
• Dozer system up to 4.02 m width, with tilt and pitch function.
• Two winch systems with 9 t of traction force each and 200 m cable length. The traction force can be increased by pulleys.
• Mine clearing equipment consisting of a mine clearing plough (can be installed in place of the dozer system) and lane marking.
  

A complex camera and vision system as well as state-of-the-art control and display units allow the user to work efficiently even when the hatches are closed."

Sources: NIS News and RUAG