German Army orders additional Fox 1A8 vehicles
Rheinmetall will modernise an additional 25 Fuchs/Fox armoured transport vehicles for the German Army to enhance protection levels under a new €36 million contract.
This contract will see Rheinmetall bring the vehicles up to the new 1A8 version. The upgrades make the vehicle the best-protected wheeled armoured vehicle in its weight class. The 1A8 enhancements provide greater protection from landmines and IEDs, which continue to pose a widespread threat in Afghanistan. It also offers better protection from ballistic fire. The infantry section vehicles are also equipped with an unmanned weapon station, giving them improved self-defence capabilities.
The 25 vehicles that form this order come in five different configurations, three of which the German Army is procuring for the first time: seven HRM communication vehicles equipped with high-frequency HRM radio systems; five command and fire control vehicles for indirect fire/joint operations tactical fire support; four combat weather section vehicles for indirect fire/joint operations tactical fire support (weather data collection and analysis); six armoured reconnaissance vehicles; and three EOD section vehicles.
The contract has been issued by the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw). This will bring the total number of Fox 1 vehicles upgraded by Rheinmetall under BAAINBw contracts to 177. Approximately 123 of these vehicles have been delivered to date.
More from Land Warfare
-
Rheinmetall wins communications deal that could be worth up to €400 million
The systems have been purchased under a special fund which has already been tapped into for the purchase of 60 CH-47F Block II Chinook helicopters worth up to €8 billion (US$8.7 billion) and thousands of Rheinmetall Caracal airmobile special operations vehicles worth €1.9 billion.
-
The Philippines looks to Israel for military equipment amid South China Sea tensions
The southeast Asian country has been enhancing its military readiness by procuring advanced Israeli defence platforms and systems.
-
NSPA signs new helmet system framework deal and agreement for C-UAS systems
The Caiman helmet has been designed to be scalable for dynamic operations with mission-specific accessories and can incorporate electronics, communications headsets and other critical equipment.
-
US Missile Defense Agency’s budget could be cut by $2.6 billion over the next three years
The reduction would impact several acquisition and development programmes, creating capabilities gaps in US missile defence architecture.
-
Israel ramps up Arrow-4 development following Iranian attack
Israel’s Ministry of Defense has fast-tracked the development of the Arrow-4 ballistic missile interceptor in response to recent Iranian ballistic missile attacks.