German Army procuring new rockets for Panzerfaust anti-tank weapons 

The bazookas, which have a range of up to 600 meters, are said to be effective against any tank except those with active protection systems. The weapon's manufacturer Dynamit Nobel Defense is a subsidiary of Israel's Rafael

German Army procuring new rockets for Panzerfaust anti-tank weapons 

Photo: Bundeswehr/Sebastian Wilke

The German Army signed a contract in late February with Germany's Dynamit Nobel Defense, a subsidiary of Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, for the production and delivery of 3,000 rockets for the Panzerfaust 3-IT anti-tank weapon, the Soldat & Technik website reported. The Army's stocks of the projectiles have to be repeatedly replenished as they are used very frequently in exercises and training.

Depending on the type of sight used, the Panzerfaust 3-IT has a range of up to 600 meters. Thanks to its improved hollow charge, it can penetrate up to a meter into armor without reactive protection, or 800 mm into armor with reactive protection. The weapon is effective against any tank except those with active protection systems, according to the report. 

The Panzerfaust 3 has served as the standard bazooka of the German Armed Forces for a long time. The weapon was introduced in 1992 as the DM12 with a shaped charge warhead. The German Army later received upgraded versions, such as the DM22, with a double hollow charge warhead, and the DM72. Not long ago, a more powerful rocket, the DM72A1, was introduced for the most modern version of the bazooka, the Panzerfaust 3-IT (Improved Tandem). Both the DM22 - in small numbers - and the DM72A1 are in use in the German Army, the website said.

According to reports, the weapon system will remain in service until 2025 or afterwards. The German Army is currently considering to what extent the Panzerfaust 3-IT can continue to meet the requirements for a modern anti-tank weapon in the future, and whether there is a need for a successor system. The manufacturer, Dynamit Nobel Defense, stopped developing the weapon some time ago and is now focusing on the development of the RG 90 HH-T and the RGW 110 HH-T, considered the successor systems of the Panzerfaust 3.

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