Rheinmetall Australia says it has completed a series of demonstration trials of the Soucy composite rubber track (CRT) system on the Lynx KF41 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) it is offering to the Australian Army as part of the LAND 400 Phase 3 program.
Rheinmetall managing director Gary Stewart said the CRT demonstration confirmed the Lynx IFV was capable of using both steel and composite rubber tracks.
“The vehicle was reconfigured from its base steel track system to the CRT, successfully demonstrating vehicle operation on the CRT system and then returned to the base steel track configuration with great success.
“The Rheinmetall Lynx IFV has the modularity and flexibility to be operated with both types of track systems, allowing armies to configure the vehicle to meet the operational need,” Stewart said.
Stewart said the flexibility of incorporating CRT as a track option on Lynx increased the vehicles’ ability to meet a dynamic threat environment.
“Both track systems have their advantages and while it is for the end user to determine whether a Steel or Composite Rubber track is most appropriate, the flexibility of the Lynx design to be configured with either provides the greatest flexibility to defense,” he added.
Rheinmetall is competing against South Korea’s Hanwha Defense for the Australian A$27.1 billion program to procure new close combat vehicles. The winning proposal is expected to be selected next year. Up to 450 IFVs and a maneuver support vehicle capability comprising up to 17 vehicles are expected to be procured.
Hanwha is offering its Redback IFV equipped with an active protection system from Elbit and Plasan’s armor. Redback is armed with an Mk44S Bushmaster II 30mm cannon a co-axially mounted 7.62mm machine gun. The company says it would build the vehicles at its facility in Greater Geelong if it wins the tender.
The Lynx KF41 vehicle offered by Rheinmetall weighs around 40 tons and can carry 3+8 soldiers. Lynx includes the digital Lance turret with electronic architecture common with the Boxer 8×8 CRV the company is already delivering to Australia.
