Rheinmetall producing tank ammo for Greece

DUSSELDORF, Germany, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Ammunition for the Greek Army's Leopard 2 tanks is to be produced by Rheinmetall of Germany under a $69.6 million contract.

Rheinmetall, a defense company that includes large-caliber ammunition in its product portfolio, said the order is for 12,000 rounds of 120mm ammunition, the initial supply for the Leopard 2 tanks the country procured in 2009 but for which ammunition was not initially ordered.

The rounds being supplied by the end of this year are DM12A2 multi-purpose ammunition and DM63 kinetic energy rounds. DM63A1 kinetic rounds will be supplied in three lots in 2015 and 2016, Rheinmetall said.

Although Greece is the end user of the ammunition, Germany's Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-service Support is the actual customer, acting on behalf of the Greek Ministry of Defense.

Rheinmetall says the arrangement "substantially simplifies and accelerates" the procurement process.

Greece has a fleet of 353 Leopard 2 main battle tanks.