Germany orders armoured NBC vehicle upgrade
Fuchs armoured NBC vehicle. (Photo: Rheinmetall)
Rheinmetall is to modernise five Fuchs A6A1 armoured NBC reconnaissance vehicles for the German Army by upgrading them to the ‘new highly protected A8A7 configuration’, the manufacturer announced on 21 September.
‘The Bundeswehr will thus have at its disposal an NBC reconnaissance and analysis capability that is a match for modern operational threats,’ Rheinmetall added in a statement.
The value of the contract was undisclosed. Rheinmetall starts the upgrade this month and it expects to complete the work by July 2024, with the first A8A7 NBC vehicle to be handed over in 2023.
Potentially, the order could also lead to the remaining 22 Fuchs armoured NBC reconnaissance vehicles being upgraded to the new A8A7 configuration.
Rheinmetall stated that it is also eyeing ‘proposals to modernise [armoured NBC] systems operated by international customers’.
More from Land Warfare
-
Canada accelerates uncrewed aerial system procurement for NATO and Arctic forces
Canada plans to acquire at least 120 uncrewed aerial systems through two competitions with combined funding ceilings of C$32 million.
-
AUSA 2026: companies adapt munitions and missiles for greater effect at lower costs
Rather than developing entirely new weapons, defence companies are looking to build on existing weapons and systems to deliver greater capability, control costs and accelerate fielding.
-
AUSA 2026: industry looks to make commercial platforms a military reality
With a production rate of more than 10 million vehicles annually, the US commercial car and vehicle manufacturing base is second only to China. Defence companies are looking at how the vehicles, technology and manufacturing capability can support programmes.