Safeguarding military assets
Rheinmetall Protective Shield
Out-of-area operations, peace enforcement and peace keeping missions: foreign deployments are clearly on the rise, and 21st century armed forces find themselves faced with new challenges. Deployments abroad create the need for semi-permanent forward operating bases, airfields and similar facilities. Location and layout mean such military assets present obvious targets for terrorist attack.
To protect them in high-risk regions, Rheinmetall offers its own comprehensive, flexibly deployable system for force protection – the Rheinmetall Protective Shield.
Comprehensive force protection from a single source
Rheinmetall, Europe's leading supplier of systems and equipment for ground forces, provides Rheinmetall Protective Shield as a flexible, modular concept for defending military assets in a variety of operational scenarios.
Combining tried-and-tested effectors, reconnaissance, surveillance and C4I technologies from Rheinmetall and its partners, this "system of systems" presents a vital advantage: the comprehensive networking of all components. Based on the "building block principle", they can be mixed and matched in virtually any conceivable configuration. Moreover, users can link the components with their existing systems and establish interfaces to other nations' C4I and weapon deployment systems.
The current situation
Numerous incidents in recent years make it clear that military installations in hazardous areas of operation are highly vulnerable. Asymmetric threats in particular have become extremely acute. Conventional security measures such as fences and berms provide no protection from cheap but lethal mortar rounds and improvised rockets. Previous attacks have exposed various weak points and shortcomings in current defence systems–vulnerabilities which Rheinmetall intends to remedy with its new Protective Shield concept.
Rheinmetall and its partners already have the technology it takes. The flexible component approach is key: Protective Shield is not a rigid system. Depending on the situation and the mission, various technologies–including sensors and effectors already in service–can be individually networked into the protective system. It will also be possible to integrate future technologies.
Assuring the effective interaction of all elements
For example, installations located close to the coast can use the radar systems of surface combatants operating offshore. Such networking of existing resources multiplies their operational effectiveness, allowing the user to achieve the same outcome with fewer forces than it would have needed even a few years ago–an important and highly welcome factor in this era of tight defence budgets.
Rapid response forces can be integrated into the system and called in on a "plug and play" basis. So can interoperability with the systems of allied armed forces, thanks to our open, standardized system interfaces. And with vertical networking, a forward operating base, for example, can also be connected with higher echelon command structures.
In its capacity as prime contractor, Rheinmetall offers a complete package from a single source, encompassing planning suites, realization, training and support.
Protective Shield is available in the following variants:
- Convoy protection
- Protection of installations and assets
- Protection of ships and harbour facilities
Asymmetric threats
Whatever their location–whether in a built-up area or in open terrain–military installations and other assets are exposed to a whole host of threats. The spectrum ranges from mortar fire, primitive rockets and rocket-propelled grenades to snipers and improvised explosive devices. Small, explosive-laden crewed and uncrewed air vehicles pose a serious threat as well, as does the possible use of nuclear, biological or chemical weapons.
The bloody consequences of the asymmetric threat are readily apparent on an almost daily basis, and there is no denying the danger they represent to troops deployed in harm's way.
Key capabilities and subsystems at a glance
Command and Control
- Protective Shield Operations Centre
- Protective Shield Planning Tool
Intelligence and Reconnaissance
- Optical sensors
- Acoustic sensors
- Radar systems
- Friend/Foe identification
- Sniper detection
- Uncrewed air vehicles
Effective Engagement
- Air defence systems
- Concealment and deception systems
- High-performance microwave technology
Survivability and Protection
- Hardened safe rooms
- NBC safe rooms
- EMC-shielded shelters
Support and Sustainability
- Tactical simulation systems
