Fuchs and Lynx from Rheinmetall
The first tanks from Ukraine should be ready in 2024
December 1, 2023, 8:47 p.m
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Within a few months of signing the contract, Rheinmetall plans to produce the first tanks in Ukraine. According to the company boss’s plans, the first Fuchs armored transport vehicles should be ready by late summer. The Lynx infantry fighting vehicle is to follow.
The Düsseldorf-based Rheinmetall Group wants to build the first tanks in Ukraine as early as 2024. As CEO Armin Papperger explained in an interview with “Wirtschaftswoche”, he expects to conclude a corresponding contract with Ukraine for the construction of the wheeled armored personnel carrier Fuchs and the armored personnel carrier Lynx by the beginning of next year at the latest.
“Once the contract is signed, we want to have the first wheel-drive vehicle ready in Ukraine after about 6 to 7 months – and the first Lynx after 12 to 13 months,” said Papperger. Production of the Fuchs from Ukraine will be possible from late summer 2024 and the Puma competitor Lynx could follow in summer 2025.
Papperger wants to deliver newly built battle tanks to Ukraine much earlier. “The first ten Lynx vehicles are already being manufactured here in Germany or in Hungary in co-production between us and Ukraine,” said the manager. “After a ramp-up phase, we should then quickly be able to produce a significant number of these vehicles entirely in Ukraine.” The federal government has already signaled that it will grant the export license necessary for production.
Papperger explained the unusually short lead time with the fact that the collaboration had progressed well. Rheinmetall is already Ukraine’s largest defense industry partner. The group received orders worth around 900 million euros in 2022, and in 2023 the order volume increased to around 2.5 billion euros. “And next year there will certainly be more,” said Papperger. Series production of the Lynx is already underway in Hungary. In addition, armored vehicles are maintained in Ukraine, and skilled workers from Ukraine have been trained in Germany for this purpose.