The German Armed Forces have placed a contract valued at more than €130 million ($152.6 million) with Rheinmetall for advanced soldier communication headsets that integrate hearing protection with tactical voice connectivity. The procurement is aimed at improving battlefield communication while protecting soldiers from harmful noise exposure during combat and training operations.
Under the order, Rheinmetall will supply 50,000 Sprechsatz mit Gehörschutzfunktion (SmG) headset sets. The systems combine active hearing protection with integrated microphones that interface with multiple radio devices, allowing clear voice communication while suppressing impulse noise from weapons fire and amplifying low-level ambient sounds. The headsets also include push-to-talk controls, optional cabling for onboard communication systems, and compatibility with both current and future combat helmets.
To fulfill the contract, Rheinmetall is working alongside industry partners 3M Peltor and CEOTRONICS AG, supplying ComTac VIII headsets and associated components. The award continues Rheinmetall’s role as a key supplier of soldier communication systems to the Bundeswehr, following several headset contracts secured over the past two years.
This latest order represents the third delivery lot under a seven-year framework agreement awarded in April 2024. The framework allows for the procurement of up to 191,000 SmG sets, with a potential total value of approximately €400 million ($469 million). Previous delivery lots worth around €150 million ($176 million) are scheduled for completion by the end of 2025, while additional ComTac VIII headsets were delivered in 2024 to support Germany’s mechanized units.
