IBD Deisenroth Engineering

IBD Deisenroth Engineering, also known in German as Ingenieurbüro Deisenroth, was a German defense-engineering company specializing in protection systems for armored and military vehicles. Established in 1981, the company initially focused on developing applications for a new explosive intended for explosive reactive armor, or ERA. During the 1980s it carried out development work for the German armed forces and the Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement, building expertise in vehicle survivability, armor integration, and protection-system engineering. The company expanded from engineering and development into manufacturing in 1991, when it established Chempro as a production arm. This structure allowed Deisenroth to develop protection technologies while also supporting industrial production and integration. Its most commercially significant technology was MEXAS, introduced in 1994. MEXAS, short for Modular Expandable Armour System, was a passive armor architecture intended particularly for upgrading existing armored vehicles. Its modular approach enabled customers to improve protection without designing an entirely new vehicle, making it suitable for a broad range of platforms and especially attractive in NATO-related markets. During the 1990s and early 2000s, IBD developed an international support and commercial network. Entities associated with its expansion included EODC in Canada, EODH in Greece, and AST in France. The company also acquired Sweden's Åkers Krutbruk Protection AB in 2003. These activities supported its efforts to reach customers beyond Germany and to provide protection technologies for a range of armored vehicle programs. Between 2000 and 2006, IBD developed the AMAP family, which superseded MEXAS as the company's broader modular protection concept. AMAP, or Advanced Modular Armour Protection, covered multiple passive and active protection functions and was designed around NATO protection requirements, including STANAG 4569 and AEP 55. The family used layered protection concepts and ceramic-based technologies intended to combine reduced weight with high ballistic and blast resistance. AMAP products were associated with platforms such as the CV90 infantry fighting vehicle and Patria AMV, while the technology was also linked to planned protection for the German Puma infantry fighting vehicle. IBD also moved into active vehicle protection. In 2007, it and Rheinmetall Defence established ADS Gesellschaft für aktive Schutzsysteme mbH, commonly known as ADS Protection, to develop an active, or hard-kill, protection system. The resulting AMAP-ADS concept used sensors and distance-active protective measures to detect and defeat incoming threats before impact. Rheinmetall increased its stake in ADS Protection over time, becoming the majority owner by early 2011. Rheinmetall acquired Chempro in 2007 and combined it with an existing ammunition-related business to create Rheinmetall Chempro. On 1 June 2019, Rheinmetall purchased most of the remaining assets of IBD Deisenroth Engineering and established Rheinmetall Protection Systems GmbH. Consequently, IBD ceased to operate as an independent company in its former structure, while its technologies, capabilities, and personnel were incorporated into Rheinmetall's protection-systems activities. Its legacy is therefore principally found in modular armor, ceramic protection, vehicle survivability engineering, and active protection technologies later developed or marketed within the Rheinmetall group.

IBD Deisenroth Engineering was founded in 1981 as Ingenieurbüro Deisenroth, an engineering and development office serving the military vehicle protection sector. Its initial work concerned applications for a new explosive intended for explosive reactive armor. From 1981 through 1989, the company undertook contract development work for the German armed forces and the Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement. This early period established the company's specialization in armor design, protection integration, and armored-vehicle survivability. In 1991, IBD created Chempro as a production organization to complement its engineering activities. The move gave the business an industrial manufacturing capability in addition to its design and development work. IBD's best-known protection system, MEXAS, was introduced in 1994. The Modular Expandable Armour System was a passive, modular armor solution intended largely for upgrading vehicles already in service. It could be adapted to different platforms and was used or associated with vehicles including the Leopard 2, ATF Dingo, ASCOD, and Panzerhaubitze 2000. The company broadened its international footprint in the early 2000s. It established EODC in Canada in 2001, EODH in Greece in 2003, and AST in France in 2004. In 2003 it also acquired Åkers Krutbruk Protection AB in Sweden. These organizations and assets supported customer access and protection-system activities in several European and allied markets. From 2000 to 2006, IBD developed AMAP, or Advanced Modular Armour Protection, as a wider family of modular vehicle protection technologies. AMAP incorporated passive and active protection concepts and used ceramic-based materials, including ceramic nanoparticle technology, to pursue a balance between protection and vehicle weight. The system family was designed with reference to NATO protection requirements such as STANAG 4569 and AEP 55. AMAP technologies were associated with the CV90 infantry fighting vehicle and Patria AMV, and were planned for application to the German Puma infantry fighting vehicle. IBD entered the active protection field through its 2007 partnership with Rheinmetall Defence. The companies created ADS Gesellschaft für aktive Schutzsysteme mbH, or ADS Protection, to develop the AMAP-ADS hard-kill active protection system. Unlike passive armor, a hard-kill system attempts to detect and intercept incoming threats before they strike the protected vehicle. IBD initially held 75 percent of the joint venture and Rheinmetall held 25 percent; by early 2011, Rheinmetall had increased its shareholding to 74 percent. Rheinmetall also acquired Chempro in 2007 and merged it with its existing ammunition activities to create Rheinmetall Chempro GmbH within the Rheinmetall Waffe Munition division. On 1 June 2019, Rheinmetall acquired most of the remaining assets of IBD Deisenroth Engineering and formed Rheinmetall Protection Systems GmbH. This transaction ended IBD's existence as an independent operating structure while transferring its protection-technology portfolio and related capabilities into Rheinmetall's defense business.

• 2019

  Most remaining IBD assets are acquired by Rheinmetall

  [1]IBD Deisenroth Engineeringen.wikipedia.org

  On 1 June, Rheinmetall acquires most remaining IBD assets and establishes Rheinmetall Protection Systems GmbH.

• 2011

  Rheinmetall becomes majority owner of ADS Protection

  [1]IBD Deisenroth Engineeringen.wikipedia.org

  Rheinmetall increases its holding in ADS Protection to 74 percent.

• 2007

  Chempro becomes part of Rheinmetall

  [1]IBD Deisenroth Engineeringen.wikipedia.org

  Rheinmetall acquires Chempro and combines it with an existing ammunition operation to form Rheinmetall Chempro.

• 2007

  ADS Protection is established

  [1]IBD Deisenroth Engineeringen.wikipedia.org

  IBD and Rheinmetall Defence form a joint venture to develop the AMAP-ADS active hard-kill protection system.

• 2006

  AMAP development succeeds MEXAS

  [1]IBD Deisenroth Engineeringen.wikipedia.org

  Development of the broader Advanced Modular Armour Protection family is completed after work conducted between 2000 and 2006.

• 2003

  Åkers Krutbruk Protection is acquired

  [1]IBD Deisenroth Engineeringen.wikipedia.org

  IBD expands its protection-technology holdings through the acquisition of the Swedish company Åkers Krutbruk Protection AB.

• 1994

  MEXAS is introduced

  [1]IBD Deisenroth Engineeringen.wikipedia.org

  IBD launches its Modular Expandable Armour System, a passive modular armor solution designed primarily for armored-vehicle upgrades.

• 1991

  Chempro is founded

  [1]IBD Deisenroth Engineeringen.wikipedia.org

  IBD establishes a production arm to complement its engineering and development activities.

• 1981

  Ingenieurbüro Deisenroth is established

  [1]IBD Deisenroth Engineeringen.wikipedia.org

  The German engineering office is founded to develop applications for explosive reactive armor and related military vehicle protection technologies.

A specialized defense-technology supplier focused on modular, weight-efficient protection and survivability systems for armored vehicles, with capabilities spanning passive armor, active protection, engineering development, and production support.

• Passive modular armor · 1994

  MEXAS

  MEXAS, or Modular Expandable Armour System, was IBD's principal passive protection product. It was designed as a retrofit and upgrade architecture for existing armored vehicles, allowing protection to be increased without replacing the complete platform. Its modular configuration supported adaptation to different vehicle geometries and mission requirements. MEXAS was used or associated with platforms including the Leopard 2 tank, ATF Dingo, ASCOD, and Panzerhaubitze 2000, and became particularly prominent in NATO-related vehicle-upgrade programs.

• Modular passive and active vehicle protection · 2006

  AMAP

  AMAP, or Advanced Modular Armour Protection, was a family of protection technologies developed between 2000 and 2006 as the successor and broader development of MEXAS. It combined layered passive and active protection concepts and used ceramic-based materials intended to provide substantial protection with lower weight than conventional armor solutions. The family was developed with reference to NATO protection standards and was associated with vehicles such as the CV90 infantry fighting vehicle and Patria AMV.

• Active hard-kill vehicle protection · 2007

  AMAP-ADS

  AMAP-ADS was an active protection system developed through ADS Protection, the joint venture created by IBD and Rheinmetall Defence in 2007. The system used distance-active protective measures intended to detect and defeat incoming anti-armor threats before they reached the protected vehicle. It complemented passive armor by addressing threats that could penetrate or bypass conventional protection. Development and ownership of the technology subsequently moved increasingly under Rheinmetall control.

• Armor-system production · 1991

  Chempro production activities

  Chempro was established in 1991 as IBD's production arm, supporting the manufacture and industrial delivery of protection technologies developed by the engineering business. Rheinmetall acquired Chempro in 2007 and integrated it with an existing ammunition operation as Rheinmetall Chempro GmbH.

• 2019

  Transfer of most remaining IBD assets to RheinmetallM&A

  Background

  After earlier integration of Chempro and increasing Rheinmetall control of ADS Protection, most of IBD's remaining assets were brought into the Rheinmetall group.

  Action taken

  On 1 June 2019, Rheinmetall acquired most remaining IBD assets and formed Rheinmetall Protection Systems GmbH.

  Aftermath

  IBD ceased to operate as an independent company in its former structure, while its capabilities continued through Rheinmetall Protection Systems.

  Source

• 2007

  Sale and integration of ChemproM&A

  Background

  IBD's production subsidiary provided a potential industrial platform for Rheinmetall's protection and ammunition activities.

  Action taken

  Rheinmetall acquired Chempro and merged it with an existing ammunition division to create Rheinmetall Chempro GmbH.

  Aftermath

  Chempro became part of Rheinmetall's Waffe Munition organization rather than remaining an independent IBD production entity.

  Source

• 2007

  Creation of ADS ProtectionStrategy

  Background

  IBD and Rheinmetall identified active hard-kill protection as a way to supplement passive vehicle armor against incoming anti-armor threats.

  Action taken

  The companies formed ADS Gesellschaft für aktive Schutzsysteme mbH to develop AMAP-ADS.

  Aftermath

  Rheinmetall later increased its ownership to 74 percent, giving it majority control of the active-protection venture.

  Source

• 2006

  Transition from MEXAS to AMAPGeneration change

  Background

  IBD's protection work evolved toward a broader architecture combining modular passive armor with active protection and advanced ceramic materials.

  Action taken

  The company developed AMAP as a successor family to MEXAS, covering multiple protection layers and functions.

  Aftermath

  AMAP expanded IBD's offering beyond retrofit passive armor and became associated with newer infantry fighting vehicle and armored personnel carrier programs.

  Source

• 1994

  Launch of MEXAS modular armorProduct launch

  Background

  IBD sought to provide a flexible protection solution for existing armored vehicles, particularly vehicles requiring survivability upgrades rather than complete replacement.

  Action taken

  The company introduced MEXAS, a modular passive armor system that could be adapted to multiple vehicle platforms.

  Aftermath

  MEXAS became a widely used IBD protection technology and was associated with several armored vehicle and artillery platforms.

  Source

1. 1IBD Deisenroth Engineeringen.wikipedia.org