DSEI 2023: Rheinmetall unveils intelligent antitank Area Defence Weapon.

At DSEI 2023, Rheinmetall presented a new intelligent antitank weapon system, the Area Defence Weapon (ADW). This system is designed to enhance the capabilities of combined arms operations by engaging and neutralizing enemy armored vehicles, particularly main battle tanks.
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The new Area Defense Weapon (ADW) is Rheinmetall's latest intelligent antitank weapon (Picture source: Rheinmetall)

The ADW is equipped with a suite of sensors, including passive and active sensors, enabling it to surveil its operational environment in all directions. This surveillance capability improves situational awareness and facilitates more effective target identification and engagement.

A notable feature of the ADW is its top attack system, which delivers the SMArt 155 sensor-fuse submunition from an elevated position above the target. This method aims to exploit the often less protected top surfaces of armored vehicles, increasing the likelihood of penetration and damage. The SMArt 155 submunition is designed for engaging armored targets at a range exceeding 100 meters. The ADW offers deployment flexibility, with options for manual emplacement, launching from logistical vehicles, deployment via mine dispenser systems, or firing from rocket artillery, allowing adaptation to various battlefield scenarios and terrains.

The ADW integrates sensors and effectors seamlessly, with sensors detecting potential targets and effectors (SMArt 155 submunitions) and engaging them, thereby enhancing operational effectiveness.

Thanks to its advanced sensor suite, the ADW can operate independently within its designated operational area, detecting and engaging targets autonomously, reducing the need for continuous human intervention and potentially improving response time. As part of a networked system for multi-domain operations, the ADW can communicate with other assets on the battlefield. It can be remotely activated, deactivated, or reprogrammed, facilitating coordinated actions and obstacle deployment as required.

The ADW can be reprogrammed to function as an obstacle for enemy forces, impeding their movements and providing tactical advantages for friendly forces, thereby adding a layer of strategic utility to the weapon.

Specifications of the ADW include a weight of approximately 25 kg and a diameter of 234 mm. Its launch-hardened design ensures durability during deployment and transportation. The ADW is categorized as an advanced intelligent European ITAR-free top-attack solution, indicating compliance with international export control regulations, making it suitable for potential export to allied nations.