The Swedish military on Wednesday followed Norway in signing a framework agreement for joint procurement of Rheinmetall MAN military trucks.

Together, the armed forces of the two countries have ordered a total of 335 vehicles -- in 14 different configurations -- worth about $272.8 million, with first lot deliveries from the end of next year until the end of 2017.

"Although the framework agreement does not contain details concerning the number of vehicles to be purchased, it expresses the intent of the procurement authorities of Sweden and Norway to buy up to 2,000 military logistics vehicles during the 2014-2026 timeframe," said Rheinmetall. "As a result, the total order value of the joint procurement program would exceed €1 billion ($1.36 billion).

Under the initial order, Sweden will receive 215 trucks in a number of variants, Rheinmetall said, and 51 of them will feature protected driver's cabs.

A service agreement covering all of the vehicles supplied has also been signed, the company said.

Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles GmbH is a joint venture of Rheinmetall AG and MAN Truck & Bus AG.

Rheinmetall's Combat Systems division takes new form
Dusseldorf, Germany (UPI) May 28, 2013 - Germany's Rheinmetall Defense has restructured its Combat Systems division to better take advantage of market opportunities.

The Combat Systems division is responsible for the company's tracked combat and combat support vehicles, force protection systems and weapon and ammunition activities.

Under the new structure -- announced this week but with effect from last January -- the division was reformed into five units: Integrated Systems, Combat Platforms, Weapon & Munition, Propulsion Systems and Protection Systems.

The newly founded Integrated Systems manages inter-divisional programs. Combat platforms manages heavyweight combat vehicles and includes Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH and PSM GmbH, maker of the Puma infantry fighting vehicle.

The Weapon & Munition business unit develops and manufactures medium- and large-caliber weapon systems and ammunition and, as before, includes RWM GmbH, RWM Zaugg AG and RWM Arges GmbH, while adding RWM Schweiz AG in Switzerland, ARM Inc. in the United States, Rheinmetall Denel Munition Pty Ltd and Rheinmetall Laingsdale Pty Ltd of South Africa, and RWM Italia, S.p.A.

Propulsion Systems is comprised of subsidiaries Nitrochemie AG, NC Aschau GmbH and NC Wimmis AG, the Rheinmetall Group said.

"The Combat Systems division's new structure welds the group's global activities in the field of weapons and ammunition into a single, globally oriented organization with a strong focus on core competencies and reinforced sales units," the group said.