Rheinmetall recently delivered the first Lynx KF41 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) to the Ukrainian Ground Forces. This unit will be evaluated by Ukrainian forces to determine the feasibility of initiating serial production of the first batch of armored vehicles in the short term.
According to the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, a Rheinmetall spokesperson confirmed the delivery of the first Lynx KF41 to Ukraine, marking the first step toward serial production of the IFV. This initiative was solidified in June 2024 when the German company and Ukrainian authorities agreed on a cooperative framework for the coming years, with the aim of establishing production lines for 155mm artillery ammunition and armored vehicles.
Armin Papperger, Rheinmetall’s CEO, stated at the time: “…With this agreement, we confirm our intention to continue our cooperation over the coming years and to create an appropriate framework. Specifically, we are already negotiating the creation of a joint venture for the production of artillery ammunition in Ukraine. In addition, we plan to deliver the first Lynx infantry fighting vehicles to the country this year and to begin manufacturing these systems in Ukraine in the near future…”
In its June press release, Rheinmetall also mentioned that the framework agreement for the supply of several hundred Lynx KF41 IFVs to Ukraine was still being finalized, alongside training, maintenance, and repair services. Beyond potential direct deliveries from the German company, plans for Ukrainian reindustrialization were also considered to establish and consolidate sustainable defense capabilities.
Lynx KF41
The Rheinmetall Lynx KF41 is a versatile family of armored combat vehicles based on a common drive module and a flexible mission kit, allowing the base vehicle to be configured as an IFV, armored personnel carrier, command vehicle, ambulance, or recovery vehicle.
The Lynx KF41 is powered by an 850 kW (1,140 hp) Liebherr engine paired with a Renk transmission. Thanks to the suspension system developed by the Australian company Supashock, the Lynx can be equipped with various combat systems and scalable protection. The primary variant is the IFV, which features the Lance 2.0 turret armed with a 30mm MK 30-2/ABM cannon and can be fitted with additional combat modules, such as anti-tank missiles and active/passive protection systems.
Notable variants of the KF41 include the Lynx Skyranger 30, requested by Hungary to integrate the next-generation Skyranger air defense system. “…This system offers an optimal combination of mobility, survivability, flexibility, and precision, capable of countering the most challenging new threats in the field of air defense…”
The Skyranger 30 features a 3D AESA search radar, an IR FIRST detector, a multisensor electro-optical system, and an optional tracking radar, enabling it to detect targets up to 20 kilometers away.
Another variant proposed by Rheinmetall is the Lynx 120, a fire-support version integrating a 120mm smoothbore gun turret onto the Lynx KF41 chassis. “…This version offers a well-balanced combination of lethality, protection, mobility, and survivability…”
Currently, Hungary is the only user of the Lynx KF41, having acquired 209 units under a contract signed in 2020. Rheinmetall specified that the first batch of 46 vehicles would be manufactured in Germany, with the remaining units produced at its facilities in the ZALAZone industrial complex in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary.
Illustrative cover image. Credits: Rheinmetall
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