German defense company Rheinmetall has received orders from Lithuania and Estonia for the supply of hand grenades and ammunition for both handheld and under-barrel grenade launchers. The total value of the contracts is estimated at €33 million.
Lithuania placed its order back in Q4 2024 for several thousand 40×46 mm high-explosive fragmentation grenades. The value of this deal was approximately €16 million gross, according to a press release from Rheinmetall.
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40×46 mm LV flash-bang grenade / Photo credit: Rheinmetall
Estonia followed with its order in the Q2 2025, requesting both offensive and defensive hand grenades. The delivery schedule includes defensive grenades in 2026 and 2027, and offensive grenades between 2026 and 2029. The total value of this order is €17 million gross.
The exact type and quantity of hand grenades for Estonia has not been disclosed. However, the clear distinction between offensive and defensive kinds suggests that the order does not include the dual-mode DM51 grenades, which can be converted using a detachable fragmentation sleeve.
DM51 hand grenade in Ukraine / Photo credit: ArmyInform
It is therefore likely that the grenades in question are the defensive SplHGr 85 and offensive OffHGr 85 models, which are already in service with Lithuania and the Czech Republic.
SplHGr 85 defensive and OffHGr 85 offensive hand grenades / Photo credit: Rheinmetall Waffe Munition
As for Lithuania’s 40×46 mm grenades, they will be delivered in the Medium Velocity (MV) variant, which has a muzzle velocity of around 100 m/s compared to the standard 76 m/s of Low Velocity (LV) types. This improves the grenade’s flight trajectory and extends its effective range.
Mention of these grenades also brings to mind Rheinmetall’s new high-precision SSW40 grenade launcher — Germany’s answer to the American PGS. It is capable of firing both LV and MV grenades, giving it a significant tactical edge.
High-precision SSW40 grenade launcher / Photo credit: Rheinmetall
It is also worth recalling that Lithuania is planning to purchase anti-tank mines from domestic producers, although Polish-made ones appear to be more appealing. The country plans to spend as much as €800 million on such acquisitions to strengthen its defenses against russia.