On Thursday, December 11, 2025, the German group Rheinmetall AG announced that it had signed a contract worth more than 130 million EUR net with the Federal Office for Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw – Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr) for the delivery of a batch of 50,000 active hearing protection devices (Sprechsätze mit Gehörschutzfunktion, SmG).
Photo: Rheinmetall AG
This is the third call-off contract under the framework agreement of April 24, 2024, which allows for ordering up to 191,000 active hearing protection sets with a maximum value of 400 million EUR. Earlier, on August 2 of the same year, the first 30,000 sets were ordered, followed by another 30,000 on September 4, together worth 150 million EUR. Their deliveries are scheduled to be completed by the end of this year.
The SmG active hearing protection systems suppress harmful battlefield noise while amplifying quiet sounds, enabling situational awareness and communication with other soldiers through a boom microphone and headphones connected to various types of radios. The complete set also includes a control panel, a push-to-talk (PTT) function, and cable kits for connecting the headset to different handheld and vehicle-mounted radios. The SmG system is compatible with numerous helmet types, goggles, and gas masks used by Bundeswehr soldiers.
Subcontractors for the order include 3M Peltor, providing the ComTac VIII headset, and CeoTronics AG, supplying the CT-Multi PTT 1C and 3C control panels.
This order underscores Rheinmetall AG’s leading role in the field of military equipment. The company is the prime contractor for the Bundeswehr’s Infanterist der Zukunft – Erweitertes System (IdZ-ES) soldier system. Rheinmetall is offering various configurations of its Gladius soldier system on the international market.
#Tactical #communication: German #ArmedForces orders
additional #communication #headsets with hearing protection function from #Rheinmetall – order value exceeds €130 million https://t.co/jXiMquu9um pic.twitter.com/Tcwf7z6xi2— Rheinmetall (@RheinmetallAG) December 11, 2025