Rheinmetall has unveiled the first of three Lynx KF41 Infantry Fighting Vehicles designed, developed and manufactured for the $18.1 billion Land 400 Phase 3 program.
Rheinmetall is delivering each of the Lynx vehicles to compete in the test and evaluation trials as part of the Risk Mitigation Activity (RMA) to be conducted around Australia over a 12 month timeframe from November 2020. If successful, the Lynx fleet will be manufactured in Queensland at Rheinmetall’s new Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) at Redbank, south-west of Brisbane.
The RMA trials will incorporate a range of tests including lethality, mobility and protection. The vehicle unveiled will be the focus of blast testing at a dedicated Commonwealth facility in coming months.
Lynx was unveiled at a closed ceremony with selected Australian industry partners at the MILVEHCOE. Each of the Lynx vehicles delivered into the RMA trials will incorporate a 'significant level' of Australian industry content and local partners to the Rheinmetall offer for Land 400 Phase 3.
“Rheinmetall looks forward to demonstrating the capability of this next generation infantry fighting vehicle,” Rheinmetall Defence Australia Managing Director Gary Stewart said. “We believe Lynx is the best vehicle in its class and sets a new standard in protection and the lethality needed to survive and defeat any adversary.
“Lynx has been developed so it is positioned at an ideal level of maturity when Australia needs it to enter service - and it will have a growth path to extend these capabilities through its 40-year life.”
Lynx has been selected by the Hungarian Armed Forces for the delivery of more than 200 vehicles in the first launch order for the vehicle globally. Rheinmetall Defence Australia will export turrets to the value of $150 million manufactured in Australia – and says it will soon announce further export orders into the Hungarian program including orders for Australian SMEs.