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World Aviation Defense & Security News - United States, Germany
 
 
Rheinmetall and Day & Zimmermann to make medium-calibre ammunition for USAF F-35
 
Germany's Rheinmetall and the family-owned enterprise Day & Zimmermann (D&Z) have established a joint venture company. The two firms announced the move at the AUSA show in Washington D.C. in October 2016. Serving as general contractor or subcontractor, the new joint venture will design, develop and manufacture state-of-the-art ammunition for the US market. These include the 25mm ammunition for the F35 Joint Strike Fighter, the US Air Force's latest warplane.
     
F 35 JSF aerial gun fireGun test firing from an airborne F-35A. Picture: Lockheed Martin
     
The new joint venture combines the Rheinmetall Group's expertise in ammunition design and development with D&Z's outstanding manufacturing capabilities. Trading under the name Rheinmetall, Day & Zimmermann Munitions (RDZM), the company will operate out of Rosslyn, Virginia. Rheinmetall and D&Z each have a 50% stake in the joint venture, whose focus is on medium-calibre and indirect fire solutions.