Rheinmetall Air Defence AG is a division of German armament manufacturer Rheinmetall, created when the company's Oerlikon Contraves unit was renamed on 1 January 2009 and integrated with Rheinmetall's other air-defence products.[1] Oerlikon Contraves was a Swiss anti-aircraft artillery manufacturer famous for its adaptation of the 1916 20 mm Becker as the Oerlikon 20 mm autocannon design, which was used in the Second World War and remains in use. Copies and derivatives of these designs were made by German, French, British, and Japanese weapon manufacturers. Oerlikon Contraves was purchased by Rheinmetall in 1999.[2]
As of January 2009[update], Rheinmetall Air Defence had around 1,050 employees at locations in Switzerland, Germany, Italy, and Canada. The group's sales in 2008[update] were about 380,000,000 Euros.[1]
- ^ a b "Rheinmetall Air Defence: the new name of air defence specialist Oerlikon Contraves" (Press release). Rheinmetall. 27 January 2009. Archived from the original on 28 November 2010.
- ^ "Rheinmetall unit Oerlikon Contraves to appeal Unaxis' name change". Forbes. AFX News Limited. 18 September 2006. Retrieved 2 October 2010.[dead link]