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For the US version of the Lynx, one of the five remaining candidates for the US Army's new infantry fighting vehicle, the armaments company Rheinmetall is working on the integration of an unmanned automatic cannon turret to accommodate a 30 mm or optionally a 50 mm weapon system. This emerges from a conversation between Mike Milner, Head of Business Development at American Rheinmetall Vehicles, and the US trade magazine "Army Technology". According to Milner, if the Lynx were successful, it would be manufactured entirely in the USA, and a technology transfer had already been initiated. A spokesman for the Rheinmetall group confirmed the statements when asked by Soldier & Technology.

In July, the US Army selected five suppliers for the next phase of the competition to succeed the Bradley infantry fighting vehicle. In addition to American Rheinmetall Vehicles, a US subsidiary of the German armaments group from Düsseldorf, Point Blank Enterprises, BAE Systems, General Dynamics Land Systems and the team from Oshkosh Defense and the South Korean manufacturer Hanwah are to be involved in phase 2 of the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) -Program submit digital designs of the new combat vehicle.

As part of the OMFV program, the US Army intends to replace almost 4,000 Bradley combat vehicles, the successor to which has already cost several billion US dollars, without introducing a single combat vehicle. This is the US Army's third attempt to find a successor to Bradley, who is around 40 years old.

According to a statement from the US Army, the five contracts for the digital design studies total around USD 300 million, with Rheinmetall's share amounting to USD 54 million.

Tower concept OMFV-Lynx

According to Milner, the Lynx KF41 platform will serve as the basis for the OMFV version of the infantry fighting vehicle, since the basic version already meets several basic requirements of the US Army. However, specific adjustments are necessary.

Rheinmetall designed the Lynx as an armored personnel carrier with a manned turret, such as that selected in Hungary and competing in Australia and the Czech Republic.

This requires a crew of three people. However, US forces require a crew of two, requiring an unmanned turret concept. Apparently the tower concept has already been developed and prototypes are available.

According to Rheinmetall, Team Lynx, consisting of American Rheinmetall Vehicles, Raytheon Technologies, L3Harris Technologies, Textron Systems and Allison Transmissions, is currently working on an integration. To this end, a development agreement (CRADA) was recently concluded with the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center (DEVCOM AC).

This CRADA allows the DEVCOM AC and American Rheinmetall Vehicles to work together on a regular basis to develop integrated weapons, fire control, and ammunition technologies for combat vehicles. "Among other research and development tasks, the CRADA will provide the team with the opportunity to explore the integration of the US Army's 50mm XM913 cannon on platforms that are potential candidates for the OMFV program," said a late August release published press release by Rheinmetall.

Der unbemannte OMFV-Turm des Lynx wird laut Rheinmetall ohne Änderungen an der Turmstruktur bzw. -architektur eine 30-mm-Kanone vom Typ XM813 oder die 50-mm-Kanone XM913 von Bushmaster aufnehmen können. Einen Rohrwechsel kann offenbar auch die Besatzung im Feld vornehmen, vorausgesetzt diese verfügt über eine Vorrichtung zum Heben der schweren Waffenanlagen.

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In addition, the turret has integrated TOW anti-tank guided missiles of the latest version, which are currently also used on the Bradley, as well as a multi-role drone of the type Coyote XM913 from Raytheon. According to the manufacturer, the tube-launched Coyote drone can be deployed singly or in swarms and is capable of a variety of missions, including surveillance and electronic warfare. However, the system can also be used as a kinetic agent, it is designed to carry interchangeable payloads. Raytheon states an operating time of the system of up to one hour.

The integration of the anti-tank guided missile Javelin is also conceivable. The weapon system is currently being further developed so that it can also be used for anti-drone defense and reconnaissance in addition to combating tanks.

Team Lynx

In order to improve the chances of competition, Rheinmetall set up “Team Lynx”, in which several companies from the USA are involved.

Raytheon contributes its expertise in the field of sensors and effects. L3Harris is a specialist in vehicle mission systems and cyber security solutions and is responsible for the realization of the Lynx's Modular Open System Architecture (MOSA). Textron Systems serves as the primary manufacturing partner for the Lynx chassis, bringing its expertise in robotics and unmanned systems. Allison Transmission is responsible for the development and production of a transmission and drive-by-wire capability.

Phases of the OMFV program

Phase 1: Market Analysis (Completed in 2020)

Phase 2: In the digital design phase (2021 to early 2023), five competitors are to create digital designs for the required combat vehicle and prepare a preliminary design review (PDR). Subsequently, in a post-design phase, there is the possibility of further developing the vehicle design. Selection criteria are performance, technical maturity of the design, rights and costs for procurement and operation.

Phase 3: In the detailed design phase (2023 to 2024) in April 2023, as a result of the examination of the virtual vehicles, a maximum of three suppliers will be asked to refine their designs, taking into account the simulation results of phase 2, and to build functional prototypes by July 2025 .

Phase 4: The construction of three prototypes and their testing is the subject of the so-called prototype and test phase (2025 to 2026), at the end of which the selection of a competitor for the series production of the OMFV is provided.

Phase 5: Pre-series production (starting in 2027) is for the production of a pre-series OMFV whose vehicles are intended for extensive testing by government agencies.

Waldemar Geiger