German Army to receive DM22 PARM directional antitank mines.

In the context of strengthening its defensive capabilities, the German Bundeswehr signed an order on October 18, 2023, for armaments that marks a return to the origins of the Cold War. The directional anti-tank mine DM22 PARM, the German acronym for PanzerAbwehrRichtMinen, is back in the spotlight, with an order for these munitions by the German army.
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Training with a drill DM22 directional anti-tank mine (Picture source: Bundeswehr)

Developed in the early 1980s, at a time when the threat from Soviet Operational Maneuver Groups was predominant, the PARM is designed to be a nightmare for armored vehicles. Minefields have always been and probably will remain one of the greatest dangers for these vehicles, as evidenced by the numerous videos published online showing tanks and other vehicles being destroyed by such weapons. Typically, classic anti-tank mines are used, buried under a thin layer of soil, and activated by the pressure of the tank as it passes over them. However, other types of mines have been developed in the past to counter the armored threat, designed to strike the side of the armored target, with a sensor activating them as the vehicle passes by. Usually deployed along choke points, where tanks and infantry fighting vehicles are forced to follow a predictable route, these mines consist of a sensor that activates the effector, equivalent to Claymore mines for vehicles.

Initially developed by Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB), it was accepted into service by the German army in 1988 as the DM12 PARM, with about 25,000 of these mines acquired between 1991 and 1994. To comply with the Ottawa Convention, these mines were updated to the DM22 standard by adding an automated system that renders the PARM inert after 40 days of operation.

The PARM has become an integral part of TDW's portfolio, this company having been formed in 1994 after a series of mergers and name changes, and has been a subsidiary of MBDA since 2006, specializing in military payloads.

TDW had ceased the production and modification of PARMs at least 10 years ago, but now the system is set to return to the MBD Germany assembly lines, following the contract signed by the German Ministry of Defense on October 18, 2023, which calls for the production of 2,600 PARMs with an option for 10,000 more.

The system required by the German army is still the DM22 PARM, which weighs less than 10 kg. It is triggered by an optical cable through which the signal travels back and forth, the ignition of the munition occurring when the cable is broken and no return signal reaches the arm and firing device. The DM22 is divided into two parts: the tripod on which the static part of the weapon, the battery, the aforementioned arm, and the firing device, as well as the launch tube, are installed. The latter is ejected from the tube by a propelling charge and has a very limited range as the optical cable is 40 meters long, and is equipped with a single-shaped charge warhead of 128 mm caliber and an explosive weight of 1.4 kg, which ensures a perforation of 600 mm of rolled homogeneous armor.

Easy to deploy, the arming device can be deactivated if the mine needs to be moved to a different location, ensuring safe transport. The PARM is deployed in such a way that the cable should be crossed by the vehicle, with the mine being launched at about 90 degrees, which, coupled with the height of the tripod, means that the targeted area is mainly that of the tracks, which is the main reason why a single shaped charge is considered sufficient for destruction.

As mentioned, the German army has ordered a new batch of DM22 PARMs. TDW is now starting to rebuild the production line and order long-lead items from subcontractors, with the start of the production qualification batch planned for 2025, serial production starting in 2026, and the first deliveries scheduled for 2027, this timeline being considered the shortest possible by the company.

In parallel with the work leading to serial production, TDW will develop a series of improvements that could lead to an entirely new weapon. The current optical cable is expected to be replaced by a series of different sensors which may include acoustic, vibration, infrared, and other types of sensors. These could allow for identifying the type of target, significantly increasing the system's capacity, although it may alter the system's cost-effectiveness, the current PARM being considered a relatively low-cost weapon. A networking capability might also be added, allowing the creation of a "smart minefield" where information is shared among the mines and also provides a global picture to an operator, a man-in-the-loop capability being also considered, as well as a remote arming/disarming capability. According to TDW representatives, the current DM22s could be upgraded with all or part of these capabilities, thanks to the modular conception of the PARM. What should not change is the shaped charge, the DMXX remaining a weapon designed to strike the side of an armored vehicle.