Rheinmetall has received a multibillion-dollar framework contract from Germany’s Bundeswehr to develop the Tactical Wide Area Network for Land-Based Operations, or TaWAN LBO for short. Representatives of the German military procurement office and Rheinmetall Electronics signed the 10-year agreement.
According to the company, an initial order worth $1.96 billion has been placed to equip a Bundeswehr division, with deliveries scheduled from late 2026 to late 2029.
TaWAN LBO will provide a secure transport network for Federated Mission Networking, a NATO framework to improve information-sharing during allied operations. Integrating with the Bundeswehr’s Protection Core Network, the system will connect forward tactical networks to the rear-echelon core network, ensuring high-speed connectivity.
Rheinmetall will also supply 102 protected 8×8 HX trucks from Rheinmetall MAN to carry large directional radio systems and mobile high-extendable antenna masts. Two vehicles will have the mast system and a 20-foot functional container with servers and equipment, while other vehicle platforms will be used for smaller mobile extendable antenna masts. A software-based directional radio management system will be developed to oversee operation planning and execution.
“Now that the Bundeswehr will be receiving TaWAN LBO and D-LBO from a single source, the conditions for a synchronized coordination concerning the introduction of both systems are given,” said Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger. “It is our ambition to provide the Bundeswehr with a seamless and reliable communication network within the given timeframe – one which can be considered a flagship of digitalization in Germany.”
This TaWAN LBO contract builds on the German manufacturer’s other recent orders from the Bundeswehr, including a $342 million contract for 568 logistics vehicles and a potential $109.4 million framework contract for unguided 70 mm practice rockets.