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Wirkmittel 90

August 9, 2009: The ‘Wirkmittel’ (Means of Force) 90 bridges the gap between shoulder fired guided and unguided anti-tank weapons. Current guided Anti-Tank weapons lack range (rarely going beyond 1,000 meters), and unguided ones are effective only out to an average 600 meters.

Wirkmittel 90 provides 20-1,200 meter capability, with a 90 mm, 3 kilogram (6.6 pound) High Explosive Squash Head (HESH) Anti-Material round. The warhead comprises a tandem warhead for penetration of Enhanced Reactive Armor (ERA). Fusing is three modes selectable by the user, allowing point detonation, short, or delayed activation.

There is a detachable sight, with a laser range finder   and allowance for lateral correction and super elevation. This enables operators to compensate for range and target movement.

Wirkmittel can be used inside buildings because of its minimal back blast. Total weight is around 10 kilograms (22 pounds). The German Army will begin getting the Wirkmittel in 2014, replacing the Panzerfaust 3 disposable AT weapon.

The nearest rivals to Wirkmittel are the U.S SMAW (Shoulder Launched Multi-purpose Assault Weapon), Swedish AT-4, and Carl Gustav, all of which lack both range and/or warhead size to compete with the WirkMittel 90.   -- Mike Perry
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Nasty German Idiot       8/10/2009 3:34:16 PM
Panzerfaust 3:
 

 
Wirkmittel 90:
 

Wirkmittel 90. Drawing by Dynamit Nobel Defence GmbH
 
 
Above: Wirkmittel 90 Anti-Material Projectile:
Loaded with HESH fragmentation tandem warhead weighing a 3kg, the Wirkmittel 90 will comprise a disposable launcher firing a projectile capable of hitting targets at a maximum combat range of 1,200 meters. Drawing: Dynamit NObel Defence.
 
 
 One of several sight systems considered for the Wirkmittel 90 is this FLV lightweight fire control unit being developed by Rheinmetall defence. Photo via Dynamit Nobel Defence
 

The German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) currently use the Panzerfaust Pzf3 IT600 anti-tank weapon, capable of a maximum combat range of 600 meters (equipped with the DynaRange optical sight). For longer range the Bundeswehr the Milan 2 and TOW 2B missiles which are much heavier and not suitable for special operations. Current anti-structure weapons comprise the RGW 60 using a 60mm High Explosive Squash (HESH) warhead. The new Wirkmittel 90 weapon will use a 90mm warhead, being operable from very short range (20m) up to double the current combat effective range of comparable weapons, reaching up to 1,200 meters. Like other Dynamit Nobel Defence weapons it will enable firing from enclosure, particularly useful for combat engagements in urban terrain.

The disposable weapon will use a detachable fire control system. According to DefPro, Zeiss Optronic or Rheinmetall Defence Electronics GmbH , both German companies are considered to be the sight suppliers. The optical sight and laser rangefinder will provide the operatorwith lateral corrections and super elevation for range and target movement aiming compensation.

The new disposable weapon will weigh about 10kg, loaded with a 3kg HESH fragmentation tandem warhead. This warhead will comprise a precursor breeching the target and a main segment, containing the HESH charge and fragmentation layer. The warhead will utilize a tri-modal fusing mechanism, selected before firing by the user, enabling point (impact) short or delay activation, enabling the weapon to defeat armored vehicles, structures and soft, exposed targets from long distance. At present DND is developing the weapon only for the German Army. It is expected to be operational toward 2014.
 
XXXttp://defense-update.com/products/w/wirkmittel90_180309.html
 
 
Quote    Reply

LB    How Accurate at 1200m   8/10/2009 4:45:18 PM
The round might fly 1200m but personally I'm a bit dubious it's accurate at that range and would wait for field tests.
 
Quote    Reply

Nasty German Idiot       8/10/2009 9:20:13 PM

The round might fly 1200m but personally I'm a bit dubious it's accurate at that range and would wait for field tests.
dito
 
Quote    Reply

lastdingo       8/12/2009 7:46:56 AM
I have basic doubts about the usefulness of such an extension of infantry combat range.
 This munition was mentioned in my blog text about these doubts weeks ago.
link
 
Quote    Reply

lastdingo       8/12/2009 7:48:39 AM
link didn't work
 *ttp://defense-and-freedom.blogspot.com/2009/07/infantry-combat-ranges.html
 
Quote    Reply

doggtag    on that 1200m thing...   8/12/2009 4:28:00 PM
I think that might more be an instance of shooting at a stationary target (the proverbial broad side of a barn) where someone with a heavy weapon (MG, sniper rifle, RPG-7, etc) may be shooting back, or at some of your buddies a bit closer to the threat than you are.
 
Against a moving target, forget it.
But against a fixed structure, on a day with low-to-no mild winds, it should work fine against something pretty decent-sized that isn't moving.
 
The other card I see there is, will a lot of German infantrymen be carrying these?
Or will it be a more specialized weapon deployed mostly for vehicle-borne troops?
Because it that case, it would seem more sensible, from the German perspective, to shoot with autocannon (20mm in Marder, 30mm in Puma) and guided missiles (like the Israeli Spike some Pumas could have), both of which would be more accurate at >1000m than this Wirkmittel contraption.
A Spike, or other lightweight ATGM (do Germans use Javelins?) would be more expensive than an unguided Wirkmittel, but here again you wouldn't need to use a guided weapon at a building 200m away, either.
Points to the Germans though: at a 90mm diatemer, this isn't a bad caliber to
develop a guided munition for, a decade from now when this thing is finally in service in decent numbers.
By that time, miniaturized components shouldn't eat into warhead payload as much.
Here though, my brain starts pondering a vehicle-specific heavier/longer version with greater range: a pod of these on the side of an IFV turret would be quite useful: a 3kg warhead (even if it's only half that weight in explosives) is plenty potent for a lot of everyday demo tasks like civilian vehicles and lightly-armored vehicles, small field fortifications,
and the local houses (being HESH, it should bust down doors and make holes in walls quite nicely).
 
Quote    Reply

Shirrush       8/12/2009 4:56:14 PM

link didn't work


 *ttp://defense-and-freedom.blogspot.com/2009/07/infantry-combat-ranges.html

This is because you're using Internet Explorer. Just don't, please. This does not honor you, and God might even punish you for wasting the very restricted time He's given you (and us) to live.
 
Actually, it is possible to recover what you intended to show us by hacking the url so as to erase the 
''h*tp://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htarm/articles/>" that IE surreptitiously inserted before this link of yours.
 
 
 
Quote    Reply

Nasty German Idiot       8/12/2009 7:23:17 PM

I think that might more be an instance of shooting at a stationary target (the proverbial broad side of a barn) where someone with a heavy weapon (MG, sniper rifle, RPG-7, etc) may be shooting back, or at some of your buddies a bit closer to the threat than you are.

 

Against a moving target, forget it.

But against a fixed structure, on a day with low-to-no mild winds, it should work fine against something pretty decent-sized that isn't moving.
Agreed. 
 

The other card I see there is, will a lot of German infantrymen be carrying these?
A lot of Infantrymen will carry these,  as they are to replace the Panzerfaust 3 standard antitank weapon. 

Or will it be a more specialized weapon deployed mostly for vehicle-borne troops?

Because it that case, it would seem more sensible, from the German perspective, to shoot with autocannon (20mm in Marder, 30mm in Puma) and guided missiles (like the Israeli Spike some Pumas could have), both of which would be more accurate at >1000m than this Wirkmittel contraption.
 
The Puma will indeed get the Israeli Spike.   
(XXX)ttp://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htarm/articles/20090312.aspx?comments=Y

A Spike, or other lightweight ATGM (do Germans use Javelins?) would be more expensive than an unguided Wirkmittel, but here again you wouldn't need to use a guided weapon at a building 200m away, either.

Points to the Germans though: at a 90mm diatemer, this isn't a bad caliber to

develop a guided munition for, a decade from now when this thing is finally in service in decent numbers.

By that time, miniaturized components shouldn't eat into warhead payload as much.

Here though, my brain starts pondering a vehicle-specific heavier/longer version with greater range: a pod of these on the side of an IFV turret would be quite useful: a 3kg warhead (even if it's only half that weight in explosives) is plenty potent for a lot of everyday demo tasks like civilian vehicles and lightly-armored vehicles, small field fortifications,

and the local houses (being HESH, it should bust down doors and make holes in walls quite nicely).
After all, even it doesnt hit 100% sure at 1200 meters,  it will be an improovement over the current Panzerfaust which has an effective range of 400-600 meters (at best).  If the Wirkmittel 90 is accurate at 800 meters, that would already be a huge increase in range.  

PS:  A little Bundeswehr educational movie (from the 80´s ^^)  showing a German Antitank unit. 
 
 
 
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