The Swiss procurement authority armasuisse has contracted with Rheinmetall to produce a brand new era of the tried-and-tested, extremely efficient Maske 76 obscurant cartridge/speedy smoke, recognized in Switzerland because the “7,6cm Nebelpatrone 21 mit elektrischer Zündung”, or “7.6cm Smoke/Obscurant Cartridge with Electrical Fuse”. The order is value a determine within the mid-two-digit million-euro vary. A pilot lot is because of endure acceptance testing beginning in November 2022. Supply of the ultimate lot is anticipated to happen in August 2027. Rheinmetall overcame rival bids to win this order. The order will maintain the Maske manufacturing unit at Rheinmetall’s plant in Neuenburg am Rhein in Baden-Württemberg working at excessive capability for years to return.
Issued on the finish of 2021, the order heralds the Swiss Military’s substitute of the Maske-C predecessor era after a roughly 25-year service life with an up-to-date new product. A further contract was concluded for conducting periodic take a look at firing throughout the complete lifespan of the smoke/obscurant shells. Maske speedy smoke/obscurant cartridges are available in a wide range of completely different calibres. Solely not too long ago, Rheinmetall unveiled the newest Maske 81 model. It’s suitable with all 81mm cal. smoke/obscurant dispensers and will be fired from current legacy launchers. This makes the Maske 81mm particularly engaging for customers whose fight autos are outfitted with former Warsaw Pact-type smoke/obscurant dispensers.
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The Maske 76 is designed to be fired from tactical autos as a drive safety measure. The Maske household relies on a bimodular, bispectral ammunition idea. It consists of two speedy response decoy modules that generate an intensive blooming impact utilizing confirmed deception applied sciences. Furthermore, a long-lasting decoy module employs seen and infrared smoke/obscurant to interrupt the enemy line of sight within the visible and infrared spectrum. This fashion, Maske smoke/obscurant cartridges present armoured autos with efficient safety in opposition to weapon programs with visible or infrared optical aiming programs, seekers, laser goal illuminators and laser rangefinders.
