Rheinmetall acquires majority stake in Bavarian software developer blackned GmbH

The acquisition, which requires approval from the German Federal Cartel Office and the fulfilment of certain conditions, builds on Rheinmetall’s previous 40% ownership of blackned. The deal underscores Rheinmetall’s strategic commitment to advancing digital solutions for modern armed forces.

Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Heimertingen, Bavaria, blackned focuses on developing cutting-edge IT architectures for the defence sector. The company, which employs around 200 people, has experienced rapid growth in recent years, becoming a key player in the digital transformation of military operations.

This move follows a significant joint success for Rheinmetall and blackned in December, when the two companies secured a major contract to support the digitalisation of Germany’s Bundeswehr. As part of the D-LBO project, the collaboration will integrate IT systems into over 10,000 combat and support vehicles by mid-2030, modernising the capabilities of the German armed forces.

The contract, valued at EUR 1.2 billion, will see Rheinmetall handling EUR 730 million of the work, with blackned contributing €470 million. The project highlights the importance of seamless collaboration between software and defence hardware to create highly integrated systems.

Armin Papperger, Chairman of Rheinmetall AG, emphasised the strategic importance of the acquisition and the company’s broader ambitions in defence digitalisation. “The digitalisation of the armed forces is advancing, also internationally. We want to play a leading role here and are involved in corresponding projects, for example in Australia, the United Kingdom and Hungary,” Papperger stated. He also pointed to the D-LBO project as proof of Rheinmetall’s ability to deliver innovative and effective solutions.