2023-12-29 11:00:05
Rheinmetall Zrt.
Written by Rainer Ackermann
The first Hungarian Lynx infantry fighting vehicle “rolled off the production line” at Rheinmetall’s joint venture in Zalaegerszeg. This was announced independently by the Hungarian Defense Minister and the German arms company.
Defense Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky announced just before Christmas that the “first completely Hungarian” Lynx KF-41 infantry fighting vehicle had now been produced. The Hungarian version of the “most modern infantry fighting vehicle in the world”, which was developed by the German arms and technology group Rheinmetall AG, is 8.49 m long, 3.80 m wide and 3.73 m high – the latter information varies with the superstructure. The drive is provided by an engine from Liebherr: a twelve-cylinder D9612 turbodiesel tailored to military requirements, which, with a displacement of 27 liters, produces a good 200 hp of additional power over the 1,224 hp shown in the product catalog for agricultural and construction machinery.
Quality acceptance by mid-2024
Rheinmetall AG also informed about the production of the first Lynx infantry fighting vehicle at Rheinmetall Hungary. The press release continues: “Rheinmetall is continuing to expand European capacities for the production of armored vehicles. After the opening of Rheinmetall Hungary’s production, development and testing facility for armored vehicles in Zalaegerszeg, the first Lynx infantry fighting vehicle was produced there.” Extensive functional, performance and quality acceptance tests will now follow before the first Lynx manufactured in Hungary in mid-2024 can actually be handed over to the Hungarian armed forces as a client.
In this context, the CEO of Rheinmetall AG, Armin Papperger, referred to “growing customer demand” and his company’s claim to “support European security”. He continued: “The plant in Hungary, which only opened in August, is the most modern production and testing site for armored vehicles in the world and will further strengthen our global production network.” The managing director of Rheinmetall Hungary, Paul Walf, added: “We are proud of ours Team in Zalaegerszeg and our colleagues in Germany, who reached this important milestone together in record time.”
Joint venture takes over from the Germans
In September 2020, the Hungarian Ministry of Defense commissioned Rheinmetall to supply Lynx combat vehicles and related services worth over 2 billion euros. In an initial production phase, Hungary has been gradually receiving 46 German-made Lynx infantry fighting vehicles since October 2022. From the end of 2023, the remaining vehicles will be manufactured by the Rheinmetall Hungary Zrt joint venture. produced in Zalaegerszeg. Rheinmetall holds 51% of the joint venture and the Hungarian state holds 49%.
In the development center of the ultra-modern production facility in southern Hungary, the focus is on the development and manufacture of state-of-the-art tracked and wheeled vehicles for the Hungarian armed forces. In addition to the Lynx KF41 product family, this also includes the Panther KF51 Evo main battle tank.
The Lynx KF41 for Hungary was originally planned in seven variants: as a standard infantry fighting vehicle, command post vehicle, reconnaissance vehicle, fire control vehicle, mortar carrier, medical vehicle and driving school vehicle. As a further variant, Rheinmetall will develop a Lynx anti-aircraft tank with a Skyranger 30 turret. The development order for this was signed in mid-December.
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