Dutch Fennek midlife upgrade includes new targeting sensor
Lafettenadaptierbares Zielgerät 400 thermal imaging system. (Photo: Rheinmetall)
Retrofit enhances reconnaissance and target engagement capabilities for Fennek.
Rheinmetall announced on 3 August that it is adding a new gun carriage-adaptable aiming device to Fennek armoured reconnaissance vehicles in service with the Royal Netherlands Army.
Krauss-Maffei Wegmann placed a €36 million order for 246 Lafettenadaptierbares Zielgerät 400 (LaZ400) devices from Rheinmetall Electronics. Deliveries are due for completion in 2027 as part of a midlife upgrade programme for the Dutch Fennek fleet.
A glance at Shephard Defence Insight various ageing platforms in the Royal Netherlands Army inventory. For example, the Fuchs 1 is a design from the 1980s, Fennek was created in the 1990s and the PzH 2000 and Bushmaster were developed in the 2000s.
The LaZ400 replaces the existing thermal imaging system on Fennek. The Royal Netherlands Army will mount the LaZ400 on the 1530-type gun carriage on the vehicle.
The latest order brings to more than 2,700 the number of LaZ family devices in military use. LaZ400 is already used by the German Army in its FLW200 remotely controlled weapon station. ‘Its colour daylight sensor, thermal imaging sensor and laser rangefinder enable outstanding reconnaissance performance around the clock as well as precise engagement of targets,’ Rheinmetall claimed.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![CTAI’s 40mm cannon gains new A3B airburst round for UAV defence]()
CTAI’s 40mm cannon gains new A3B airburst round for UAV defence
CTA International (CTAI), a joint venture between KNDS France and BAE Systems, developed the 40mm Cased Telescoped Armament System (40 CTAS) for integration onto armoured vehicles. It has been further developed for ships and ground-based systems.
-
![What weapons have Israel and Iran been using against each other?]()
What weapons have Israel and Iran been using against each other?
Tehran has been relying on UAVs and ballistic missiles while Jerusalem uses jets, deep fires and precision-guided munitions.
-
![Paris Air Show 2025: Fulgur air defence missile revealed in anticipation of potential market]()
Paris Air Show 2025: Fulgur air defence missile revealed in anticipation of potential market
The missile was first unveiled at SeaFuture 2023 and later at the Farnborough International Airshow in July 2024. Operational delivery is expected in 2028.
-
![Bids in for Canadian Bv206 replacement]()
Bids in for Canadian Bv206 replacement
If all goes to plan, initial delivery of the selected vehicle could take place in 2029/2030 with final delivery in 2031/2032. The Bv206 were supplied to Canada many years ago and are in urgent need of replacement. More than 11,000 Bv206 were built for worldwide sale.
-
![Paris Air Show 2025: MBDA bets on carmaker to help make new one-way effector]()
Paris Air Show 2025: MBDA bets on carmaker to help make new one-way effector
The One-Way Effector (OWE) is a ground-launched missile or drome designed to act as a swarm to overwhelm air defence systems. It was displayed for the first time in Paris this week.
