Romania selects Rheinmetall Lynx IFV as local defence manufacturing expands
Production of the Otokar Cobra II (4x4) armoured vehicle has already started in Romania with the all-welded steel hull of this four-door version with load area at the rear shown in the manipulator. (Photo: Otokar)
As part of a multi-billion-dollar vehicle and artillery overhaul, Romania has officially selected the KF41 Lynx IFV to replace its ageing Soviet-based platforms.
Following a competitive evaluation, Romania has selected the German Rheinmetall KF41 Lynx infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) to meet its future requirements and is expected to place an initial contract for 232 vehicles through the EU’s Security Action For Europe (SAFE) funding programme.
Most of these will be built at the Rheinmetall Automecanica facility in Romania. The deal included a follow-on contract for a further 66 Lynx IFVs which will be funded through the normal defence budget in the future. The total programme, as noted on Shephard Defence Insight, is valued at €2.6 billion (US$3.04 billion),
The Lynx IFVs will replace the Romanian-built MLI-84 IFV, which is based on the Russian BMP-1 IFV, modified to meet Romanian requirements.
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The fleet of MLI-84s was upgraded to the MLI-84M IFV standard with a Caterpillar diesel engine and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Overhead Weapon Station 25 (OWS 25) armed with an Oerlikon 25mm KBA cannon, 7.62mm machine gun (MG) and Rafael Spike anti-tank guided weapon (ATGW). More specialised MLI-84 versions included ambulance and recovery.
Wider armoured vehicle replacements underway
Romania is also replacing its TAB family of 8x8 amphibious armoured personnel carriers (APC) with the locally built General Dynamics Land Systems (GDELS) Mowag Piranha V (8x8). Production under the first contract has almost been completed with a follow-on order expected for an additional 139 Piranha V units. This is expected to include some vehicles fitted with the Rheinmetall Air Defence Skyranger 35 air defence/counter-uncrewed aerial vehicle turret.
The country currently deploys the Rheinmetall Air Defence Oerlikon twin 35mm towed GDF series anti-aircraft guns, which fire the same ammunition as the Skyranger.
At the lighter end of the scale, the Otokar Cobra II (4x4) is in production in Romania, under a contract signed in November 2024 which covered the delivery of 1,059 Cobra II (4x4) Tactical Wheeled Light Armoured Vehicles worth around €857 million.
The first Cobra II (4x4) came from the Turkish production line, with the first units from the Romanian production line in Medias expected in June 2026.
On 29 April 2026, Otokar announced that it signed a share purchase agreement to acquire 96.77% of the capital of Automecanica SA for around €85 million.
Romanian artillery system and MBT modernisation
To replace its Russian calibre artillery systems, Romania has ordered 54 South Korean Hanwha Aerospace K9 155mm/52cal self-propelled (SP) artillery systems and 36 K10 Ammunition Resupply Vehicles (ARV).
The first vehicles will come from the South Korean production site while the remaining will be manufactured at the new Hanwha Armored Vehicle Centre of Excellence (H-ACE) in Romania, with components coming from South Korea.
To start replacing its fleet of Russian T-55 and locally built TR-85 series of main battle tanks (MBT), Romania has ordered 54 GDLS Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 MBTs plus four M1110 Joint Assault Bridges (JAB), four M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicles (ABV) and four BAE Systems M88A2 armoured recovery vehicles (ARV).
This is Phase I of the country’s MBT replacement programme and will be followed by Phase II which is expected to include a further 218 MBT plus 76 specialised vehicles.
Balancing US and European procurement
Romania is the fourth country to select the German Lynx IFV, which was built as a private venture and so far has been ordered or is in service with Hungary, Italy and Ukraine.
This is significant in that the privately developed IFV is not in service with the German Army, which deploys the Puma IFV developed and produced by PSM – a joint venture between KNDS Germany and Rheinmetall Germany.
Romania is placing contracts with both European companies and the US as sometimes the latter can offer earlier delivery dates.
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