The order was placed by the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support under an existing framework agreement with Rheinmetall Electronics GmbH. The contract covers upgrades to existing systems and the delivery of 237 additional platoon systems.
The systems are scheduled for delivery between November 2027 and December 2029. Rheinmetall said the latest order will equip an additional 8,600 German soldiers with the IdZ-ES system.
Once the contract is completed, the Bundeswehr will operate 353 platoon systems comprising more than 12,000 individual equipment sets. The company said the contract was awarded in April and will be recorded in its second-quarter 2026 financial results.
Germany’s parliament recently approved €1.3 billion for the wider programme. Rheinmetall said the approval could lead to further orders under the framework arrangement.
A single platoon system typically includes around 35 individual soldier systems and additional peripheral equipment. These include advanced information technology equipment, optics, optronics, military clothing, protective gear and carrying systems.
As the programme’s prime contractor, Rheinmetall is responsible for overall system integration. The company is coordinating contributions from more than 30 subcontractors.
In February 2025, the Bundeswehr signed a broader framework agreement with Rheinmetall worth up to €3.1 billion. That agreement runs until the end of 2030 and included a firm order worth around €417 million for the modernisation of 68 systems already in service and the procurement of 24 new platoon systems.
Rheinmetall said the framework agreement is the largest soldier systems contract ever signed by both the company and the Bundeswehr procurement agency. The company said digital soldier systems are becoming increasingly important in future battlefield operations.
The upgraded configuration removes obsolete components and introduces improved communication and data-sharing capabilities. Rheinmetall said the revised hardware will allow integration with vehicle platforms and connection to Germany’s Digitisation of Land-based Operations network.
