Rheinmetall and Italy have signed a memorandum of understanding to modernize “hundreds of thousands” of MATS anti-tank mines in the Italian Army’s stockpile.
Led by the German company’s subsidiary RWM Italia SpA and the Italian Ministry of Defense’s Agenzia Industrie Difesa, the effort will incorporate development and evaluation works to extend the weapons’ service life by upgrading them to their MK2 configuration.
The MATS MK2, based on the current metallic blast-resistant explosive design, promotes higher safety standards and improved combat effectiveness.
RWM Italia will serve as the design authority for the modified ordnance, with related processing to be conducted at the firm’s domestic Italian plant.
The enterprise currently oversees a factory in Brescia and has a key production site in Sardinia.
Operations are scheduled to begin within a year, with the initiative expected to support new jobs at both companies.
“We are grateful for the Italian Armed Forces’ confidence in our capabilities and we are enthusiastic to cooperate with [Agenzia Industrie Difesa] in this project,” said Fabio Sgarzi, managing director at RWM Italia SpA.
“With the combat-enhanced MATS MK2, RWM Italia can contribute its expertise as a national centre of excellence for mines, sea mines, bombs, charges and warheads of all kinds.”
Meanwhile, Fiammetta Salmoni, general director of Agenzia Industrie Difesa, described the project as “an important step in reactivating public defense production capabilities.”
“[Agenzia Industrie Difesa’s] competencies and industrial assets will contribute to the successful implementation of this programme as part of the broader set of initiatives.”
