Transport Panzer Fuchs 2 for an international customer

Rheinmetall has received a follow-up order from an international customer to supply kits for the assembly of Fuchs 2 armored vehicles worth 250 million euros. As the company also reports, the kits, including an initial requirement for spare parts, are to be produced at Rheinmetall in Kassel and delivered between 2021 and 2023. According to Rheinmetall, final assembly takes place in the customer's country. With an estimated unit price of six million euros, there could be around 40 vehicles.

To date, 1,600 Fuchs armored personnel carriers (TPz) have been built, most in the Fuchs 1 version, only a few as the Fuchs 2. The Bundeswehr still uses 940 Fuchs 1 TPz, of which 272 are the Fuchs 1A8 variant. In this state-of-the-art version, the protection against mines and booby traps and at the same time the ballistic protection of the vehicles have been significantly improved.

The TPz Fuchs 2 is externally similar to the previous model. However, it has a more powerful engine (315 kW), more payload (eight tons) and improvements in the combat compartment, a digital on-board network and a modernized chassis with a tire pressure control system. As far as published, so far Fuchs 2 have been delivered to the USA (conversion) and the United Arab Emirates. The number of pieces is less than 100. In cooperation with Algeria, almost 1,000 pieces of the Fuchs 2 should have been produced since around 2015. It is not known how far the project has progressed.

The 6×6 Fuchs is used in numerous variants. This includes crew transport, command post, ambulance and NBC reconnaissance. Over 100 Fuchs 1 have proven themselves in the Bundeswehr in operations such as in Afghanistan.

Rheinmetall has the Fuchs 1A8 plus in its portfolio as the latest version. Significant innovations are a new power unit, a new transfer case, a new brake system, an improved steering system and a monitor and camera viewing system. This increases the mobility in the terrain and the endurance of the crew. The Fuchs 1A8 plus could be realized either by reworking existing vehicles or by manufacturing new ones.

Gerhard Heiming

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