Germany orders PARM anti-tank mines
The BAAINBw has ordered 2,300 PARM off-route anti-tank mines from MBDA subsidiary TDW. (MBDA)
The Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr (BAAINBw), Germany's Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology, and In-Service Support, signed a contract with MBDA subsidiary TDW on 14 November for 2,300 Panzerabwehrrichtmine (PARM) off-route anti-tank mines, MBDA announced in a press release on 15 November. Thomas Gottschild, managing director of MBDA Germany said, “With the procurement, PARM is in the process of returning to serial production.”
TDW stopped production of the PARM Deutsches Modell 22 (DM22) a decade ago, the subsidiary's managing director, Andreas Seitz, told international journalists visiting MBDA Deutschland at the end of October.
The budget committee of the Bundestag, Germany's parliament, has approved PARM procurement funding worth EUR67 million (over USD73 million), the German Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 19 October.
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 (MBT) 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 (IR), radar, seismic, or acoustic sensors, or by combining some of them. Mounting PARM with a sensor active passive infrared (SAPIR) system expands the mine's tactical utility and increases its effective range from 2–40 m to 4–100 m, according to Janes Mines & EOD Operational Guide
