Rheinmetall Unveils First (and Second) Hungarian-manufactured Lynx IFV

Rheinmetall Hungary has unveiled its first Hungarian-manufactured Infantry Fighting Vehicle at their manufacturing facility in Western Hungary’s Zalaegerszeg. The Lynx KF 41 IFV was unveiled by Rheinmetall Hungary CEO Paul Walf in the presence of Minister of Defense Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky.

Only a year after the opening of Rheinmetall’s Zalaegerszeg factory, the first domestically made Lynx has rolled off the productions line and was handed over to the Hungarian defense forces. However, CEO Paul Walf had a surprise for his guests under his sleeve. To demonstrate the efficiency of the new production line, a second Lynx was unveiled only moments after the first vehicle.

In his address, Mr. Walf said that the success of the Lynx project was a result of the shared determination between the Rheinmetall team and the Hungarian government, who have made a pledge to build up the Zalaegerszeg facilities in 2020. He praised the government’s efforts supporting the project with all their resources in order to work towards protecting the Hungarian people, as well as the country’s allies. He emphasized that this was at a time when others have still not recognized the importance of developing their defense capabilities.

He also added that thanks to these efforts there is no other country in Europe that can serve as a better example of a successful and large scale capability build-up of Rheinmetall, than Hungary. The Rheinmetall Hungary CEO also hinted at the export potential of the project by saying that the modernization of the Hungarian armed forces via top-of-the-range technology produced in Zalaegerszeg might also benefit European partners in the defense area. The facility is geared towards producing more than 100 vehicles (per year) of up to 80 tons in weight, said the CEO.

Hungarian Minister of Defense Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky highlighted in his speech the fact that to successfully operate these complex vehicles one needs highly trained soldiers. It is no coincidence, therefore, that the Hungarian land forces have utilized the Lynx within their recruitment program to attract new talent to the brigades operating the vehicle. He said that new recruits have reacted very positively to the top-of-the-range technology presented to them, and as a result they were able to build strong units that will use these in the army. Hungary is thus building back its defense, and defense-manufacturing capabilities in turbulent times, said the Defense Minister.

 

 

 

The tracked IFVs equipped with a turret mounted 30 mm cannon are also manufactured by Rheinmetall in Germany, but a batch of 180 will eventually be produced in Western Hungary’s Zalaegerszeg. Along with the new Leopard 2A7+ main battle tanks, the Lynxes will form the fighting core of the Hungarian land forces.

The Hungarian Lynxes are 8.49 meters long, 3.8 meters wide and 3.73 meters tall and can carry up to eight soldiers (11 with the crew). They weigh as much as 45 tons and are expected to be outfitted with an active protection system that neutralizes incoming threats by firing an explosive projectile towards them.

Featured Image: Hungary Today