TDW to resume PARM DM22 production after over 10-year hiatus

TDW is resuming production of the DM22, the Bundeswehr's designation for the original DM12 off-route anti-tank mine modified so that it can be disarmed. (MBDA)

MBDA subsidiary TDW will resume production of the Panzerabwehrrichtmine Deutsches Modell 22 (PARM DM22) off-route anti-tank mine after it was stopped over a decade ago, the subsidiary's managing director, Andreas Seitz, told international journalists including Janes visiting MBDA Deutschland on 27 October.

The budget committee of the Bundestag, Germany's parliament, has approved the production and delivery of an initial 2,600 DM22s to replace mines sent to Ukraine, the German Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 19 October, valuing the contract with TDW at EUR68 million (USD72.5 million), with an option for 10,000 more DM22s.

Seitz said the first demonstration batch would be produced in 2025, with serial production beginning in 2026 and deliveries in 2027.

The tripod-mounted DM22 is the Bundeswehr's designation for the original DM12 modified so it can be disarmed, according to Seitz, who said that it is designed as an anti-main battle tank and anti-armoured fighting vehicle weapon.

He gave a range of 40 m with the weapon's original fibre-optic cable, claiming that the DM22 has a 100% hit probability if deployed right.

Seitz spoke of a new-generation DM22 with additional infrared, radar, seismic, or acoustic sensors, or by combining some of them. Mounting PARM with a sensor active passive infrared (SAPIR) sensor system will expand the mine's tactical utility and increase its effective range from 2–40 m to 4–100 m, according to Janes Mines & EOD Operational Guide. Other features of the new-generation PARM could include target discrimination, network capabilities, remote arming and disarming, and a human in the loop, according to Seitz.