KF41 LynxAfter the end of the Cold War in the already unified national Republic of Germany, despite the widespread demilitarisation of the German Army as well as the full European continent, the Neue Gepanzerte Plattformen program was created in the mid-1990s, allowing the arms manufacture to make a number of fresh generation armored vehicles, including the armored transporter, the BWP, the anti-aircraft vehicle, the bomb trucks and, above all, the fresh base tank. Unfortunately, in 2001, the NGP task was completed.
Despite this, it was decided that in relation to the armored and combat vehicle transporter, the work would proceed utilizing the experience gained in the completed Neue Gepanzerte Plattformen program. The program of the concept of building a fresh bwp, intended to replace the old Marder, was named Neuer Schützenpanzer and in 2002 the task was started. As a consequence of the work, the efforts of Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall Landsysteme companies created a modern combat infantry car Puma, introduced to service on June 24, 2015. However, the unit costs of the fresh German bwp proved to be a barrier to attempts to open the marketplace for the majority of countries wishing to replace their old fighting infantry wagons with fresh ones. Therefore, Rheinmetall Landsysteme, which is part of the Vehicle Systems Rheinmetall branch, which is, nota bene, co-producer of bwp Puma, undertook to make a vehicle with integrated and proven systems with a advanced level of technological readiness to reduce the period of improvement and improvement and the costs and method risks.
From the beginning, 2 variants of the fresh combat vehicle were designed, having a smaller mass of KF31 (Kettenfahrzeug 31-cost) and dense KF41 (costier). This created an chance to offer on the marketplace 2 vehicles that could satisfy customers with different defence budget portfolios. Lynx, due to the fact that that's what the fresh household of combat infantry cars were named, was designed as a private venture from Rheinmetall to supply possible customers with a modern combat car that will be able to counter all emerging threats in the modern battlefield while maintaining the ability to conduct asymmetric or peaceful operations.
KF31 LynxThe vehicle in the lighter configuration of KF31 was presented publically for the first time at the Eurosatory defence exhibition on 14 June 2016 (later on IDET 2017 in the Czech Republic). 2 years later, the light of day saw his heavier version of KF41, which was besides presented at the Eurosatory salon. Both vehicles had the same plan system, which is now standard for vehicles of this type. The KF31 has a Liebherr D9612 diesel engine with a power of 755 hp (563 kW), which is an apparent example of the departure from the tradition of mounting in German MTU engines. The motor was coupled with the Allison X300 6F/1R series automatic transmission or optionally with the Renk HSWL 256 automatic transmission, which are located at the front of the hull, on the right. The driver's position is located on the left side of the drive system. Half-length of the hull was placed a turret with a Rheinmetall Lance-type main armament (similar to the 1 mounted in the Australian version TO Boxer), armed with a stabilized automatic cannon in a 30mm caliber (Rheinmetall MK30-2/ABM) or 35mm (Rheinmetall Wotan 35). The tower besides features the latest Rheinmetall (RMG) 7.62mm device gun, firing standard 7,62 × 51 mm NATO ammunition. Additionally, the tower can besides be equipped with anti-tank guided missiles of different types, depending on the choice of possible customer.
In addition to a three-man crew, the KF31 carries six landing troops. The vehicle has a mass of 35 tonnes and reaches a maximum velocity of 65 km/h. The suspension of the six carrier wheels uses swings with conventional torsion bars and SupaShock shock absorbers systems, which are a proven and reliable suspension system. KF41 has a weight of 45 tonnes, with the anticipation of expanding up to 50 tonnes. The heavier variant is 0.5 m longer than Kettenfahrzeug 31 (7.73 m- 7.22 m), but has akin equipment elements. Of course, for mass balance, an engine with a power of 1 140 hp was used, with the anticipation of expanding power to up to 1.475 hp (in a variant of 50 tons). The KF41 uses a newer version of the Rheinmetall Lance 2.0 tower. The vehicle KF41 proved more attractive to abroad customers than its lighter variant.
The first recipient of the vehicle was the Hungarian Army, whose government signed an agreement on September 17, 2020 with the Rheinmetall Group to start production of the Lynx combat vehicle household in Hungary. The agreement concerns 218 vehicles manufactured in a recently established mill close Zalaegerszeg in Hungary. It's a large deal, due to the fact that in addition to bwp, 9 armored Buffalo rescue vehicles based on Leopard 2 will besides be placed in the Hungarian land troops.
A much larger contract involves the Australian Land 400 Phase 3 program of the Australian Defence Forces (also known as Mounted Close Combat Capability), whose bid request (Request for Tender, RFT) was announced on August 24, 2018. The Land 400 Phase 3 plans to replace the M113AS4 (Transport) armoured transporters with the Australian Army with 450 combat infantry (BWP) and 17 vehicles of logistical support. The German car mid-September 2019 was placed on a short list to consider the draft of the Australian Army Land 400 Phase 3, along with South Korean Redback K21 from Hanwha.
Combat support vehicle (logistic) Lynx CSV was presented on 18 October 2021. Lynx CSV was designed to meet the requirements of the Australian Army under the Land 400 Phase 3 program for about 100 support vehicles capable of fulfilling the roles of maneuvering support, logistics, repair and recovery of combat equipment. At the time, it was expected that the CSV option would be offered to another possible export customers, including Hungary and the USA. KF41 Lynx besides participated in the Czech programme for a fresh combat infantry car, but lost in competition with the BAE Systems AB CV90MkIV vehicle, a applicable paper with the Swedish government was signed on 20 July 2022. This is simply a terrible defeat, as the Czech army ordered a full of 210 wagons, and as if it were not enough, Slovakia's land troops besides chose a Swedish vehicle for their army of 152 copies.
Lynx besides competed under the Optinally Manned Fighting Vehicle program, intended to replace bwp M2 Bradley in the United States Armed Forces. The program closed on 16 January 2020, however, did not mean the conclusion of negotiations on a fresh combat infantry car, as after the reorganization of the OMFV competition, the U.S. Army decided to launch a fresh program involving 5 companies – the American Rheinmetall Vehicle, BAE Systems, General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS), the Oshkosh defence and Point Blank Enterprises. Rheinmetall's win in this large tender is not, as you can see, presuppose.
At the same time, the KF41 besides participates in tenders in Greece and Iraq. As if it was not adequate on October 18, 2021 a fire support vehicle (or light tank) Lynx 120 was presented, armed with a 120 mm Rheinmetall smooth-bore cannon.
As you can see, the private initiative of Rheinmetall, in order to make a fresh fighting platform in the form of bwp Lynx, has led to the creation of a successful, comparatively inexpensive and interesting construction, with tremendous possibilities for future modernization.
Text and graphics: Jarosław Janas
