American Rheinmetall Systems
Next-generation solutions delivering enhanced vehicle crew situational awareness, and soldier lethality
American Rheinmetall Systems, LLC (ARS), headquartered in Biddeford, ME, is a part of Rheinmetall’s Electronic Solutions division. ARS is a leader in the integration of next-generation intelligent systems for ground vehicles and ISR platforms. ARS’ solutions are purposely aligned with current modular and open systems philosophies meeting today’s open system requirements. ARS’s soldier lethality portfolio provides innovative lethality enhancements to individual and crew-served weapon systems. ARS also provides access to Rheinmetall’s global portfolio of electronic solutions and weapon capabilities to the U.S. warfighter.
Commitment to the U.S. Army’s CROWS Program
American Rheinmetall Systems is best known for their continued commitment to the U.S. Army’s CROWS program. Since 2007, ARS has supplied over 12,000 electro-optical (EO) and electronic LRUs for integration into the Army’s remote weapon stations. This includes ruggedized high-definition image stabilized EO sensors (day cameras), weapon mounts, and critical assemblies. Most recently, ARS has developed the VIM Vitra, a next-generation high-definition NIR/EO continuous zoom camera with improved detection, recognition, and identification (DRI) ranges, and commanding low light performance, providing a powerful upgrade option for legacy CROWS weapon stations.
Near-Peer Combat Overmatch
American Rheinmetall Systems is committed to delivering capabilities that enhance combat overmatch against near peer threats. Outside of continued success with the CROWS program, ARS is dedicated to providing advanced, networked solutions to include weapon-mounted laser aiming products, ranging and illuminating devices, weapon fire control systems, and programming units for 40 mm airburst munitions. ARS’ solutions ensure increased soldier lethality in support of the United States Armed Forces' highest modernization priorities.
Delivering Intelligent Solutions
Looking towards the future, ARS is committed to developing and delivering next-generation intelligent capabilities. ARS solutions are dedicated to reducing the sensor to shooter decision cycle by leveraging AI/ML algorithms and advanced processing solutions at the edge.
Systems & Products – Highlights
The portfolio of Amercian Rheinmetall Systems includes:
Intelligent Vehicle Systems
Rheinmetall’s Situational Awareness System (SAS) enables crews of protected vehicles to surveil their local environment and detect, track and engage potential threats faster.
The SAS is a modular and scalable local 360° video surveillance system, consisting of proven electro-optics / IR modules that are connected into a common open standards Ethernet backbone for distribution and processing. A networked video processor and distribution unit provides general stitching and display distribution, as well as advanced ATR processing capabilities for the user. The intentional modularity of the system enables specific vehicle tailoring to optimize fields of view, cable routing, power consumption and performance.
TRAILBLAZER improves driver and crew effectiveness by extending the fi eld of view beyond the daylight spectrum, even in adverse weather, obscured or low-light conditions. Featuring very low-latency front and rear video camera units, it aids the driver in terrain negotiation, obstacle avoidance and route selection. Independent wide-angle situational awareness channel outputs give crew and commander a powerful surveillance and threat detection capability. GVA compliant, native digital and analogue variants make TRAILBLAZER easy to integrate.
Soldier Systems
- R-PAL – Laser module with laser range finder
- VTAL – Laser aiming module
- VAMPIR – Laser aiming module
Surveillance Systems
FIRST is an infrared scanning device for 360° surveillance with minimized reaction times due to its continuous 5Hz scan rate. It features a high sensitivity for detection of surface and airborne targets at maximum range and a high resolution for precise target tracking, all in a compact size for vehicle integration and portability. FIRST consists of a sensor head, a signal processing unit, as well as a control and display unit.
The VIM Vitra is the next generation, daylight targeting camera for the CROWS and Stryker Remote Weapon Stations. The VIM Vitra can directly replace the current day camera in existing weapon stations. The legacy VIM has sold more than 15,000 units to 19 nations in several configurations. The VIM Vitra stretches existing capabilities within the current VIM interface by providing increased DRI distances and low light capabilities. Improved versatility, performance, and increased sustainability in battle make the VIM Vitra the day camera of the future.
Rheinmetall's mobile Counter-UAS system offers an integrated all-in-one solution to the difficult task of monitoring, identifying and as last resort intercept current and future mini and micro Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. It is designed for use in highly controlled airspaces and under the most stringent engagement conditions.
Weapon Systems
- 40 mm Fire Control Systems
- MVP Airburst Programming Unit
- Vingmate Multi-RAY 500 (MR500)
- Vingmate Multi-RAY 800 (MR800)
- Vingmate 4500
Today’s ever changing military operations call for improved weapon mounting solutions. American Rheinmetall Systems’ upgraded MK93 Mount not only decreases the system’s weight but also improves weapon handling by soft mounting both the MK19 and M2A1 weapons with a Rheinmetall patented recoil dampening mechanism. The MK93 Mount provides Soldiers with improved overall accuracy by up to 20% over existing rigid mounts.
Rheinmetall's Oerlikon Skynex Air Defence System
American Rheinmetall Systems and Rheinmetall Air Defence work collaboratively to bring these highly-effective products and capabilities to the U.S. market.
Oerlikon Skynex® is the latest air defense capability from Rheinmetall that sets new standards with its unique and open architecture. A control node, which houses the operation consoles and the Oerlikon Skymaster® Battle Management System, forms the centerpiece of the system. Various active and passive sensors along with an advanced target acquisition solution supporting weapon system solutions can be modularly linked in order to fit specific mission requirements. Radars, such as the Oerlikon X-TAR3D® provide the air picture, which is consolidated in the remote control node. From there, air targets are assigned to autonomous effectors via the Skymaster network. Besides the high performance Oerlikon Revolver Gun® Mk3, missile based air defense systems can be integrated and controlled as well. Such a weapons mix provides a highly effective layered protection shield against a wide spectrum of air threats.
Upcoming exhibitions
The dynamic developments regarding the COVID-19 pandemic are being monitored very closely by us. For this reason, events may be postponed or cancelled at short notice. Please also refer to the websites of the respective organisers.
American Rheinmetall Systems participates in the following events regularly:
- AUSA Global Force
- Sea, Air & Space
- Modern Day Marine
- SOFIC
- GVSETS
- NGAUS
- Ft. Benning Maneuver Conference
- AUSA
- Experience Federal Resources
Meet with Rheinmetall leadership at the show
Proudly supporting industry associations and consortia
- AUSA – Association of the United States Army:
Community Partner - National Guard Association of Maine
- AUSA – Association of the United States Army:
National Partner under American Rheinmetall Defense - NDIA – National Defense Industrial Association:
National Partner under American Rheinmetall Defense - NAMC – National Advanced Mobility Consortium
- DATC – Defense Automotive Technologies Consortium
- NAC – The National Armaments Consortium
- NSTIC – Naval Surface Technology & Innovation Consortium
- NADIC – National Defense Industries Council
- SCEC – Sensors, Communications, and Electronics Consortium