German military vehicle specialist Rheinmetall announced it has been awarded a follow-up order from an undisclosed customer for the supply of material kits for the Fuchs/Fox 2 wheeled armored vehicle to an undisclosed customer.
Worth around €250 million, the new order will take place during the 2021-2023 timeframe, with production to be carried out in the partner’s country.
In addition to Germany, the Fox (also known as Fuchs) is operated by Algeria, Kuwait, the Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, and the US, among others.
The order is particularly important for the group’s Kassel plant, birthplace of the tried-and-tested 6×6 vehicle. Last year marked the fortieth anniversary of the Fuchs armored transport vehicle’s entry into service with the German Bundeswehr.
To date, some 1,600 Fuchs vehicles have been built. The various versions of the vehicle include an armored personnel carrier, a mobile command post, a field ambulance or for an NBC detection and reconnaissance role.
The German Bundeswehr has fielded multiple versions of the Fuchs 1 ever since 1979, deploying over a hundred of these vehicles in Afghanistan and elsewhere. Its successor, the Fuchs 2, is an advanced version of the vehicle, featuring, among other things, a larger fighting compartment, a more powerful engine, an updated chassis, improved protection, and a digital electrical system.
Furthermore, the Bundeswehr is also modernizing part of its Fuchs 1 fleet. The latest version of the vehicle – the Fuchs 1A8 – offers better protection against mines and improvised explosive devices compared to earlier models; it also features enhanced protection against ballistic threats.
Among the principal modifications found in the 1A8 are structural changes to the hull; new seats and seat suspension systems in the fighting compartment decoupled from floor of the hull; reinforced wheel housings, doors, and window mountings; and additional external storage bins and reinforcement of the vehicle exterior. In total, the Bundeswehr inventory includes around 940 Fuchs vehicles, 272 of which are the current version 1A8.
