Rheinmetall has delivered its first Lynx KF41 infantry fighting vehicle to the Hungarian Defence Forces in Budapest, attended by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
With the delivery, Hungary becomes the first NATO member and European country to receive the newly-developed medium-weight combat system.
Rheinmetall is scheduled to deliver the remainder of the first batch of 46 Lynx from its facilities in Germany. By the end of 2022, the company will start shipping out the remaining units from its Hungarian facilities.
“We are very proud to be able to deliver the first Lynx infantry fighting vehicle to our partner Hungary today. This is an important milestone,” Rheinmetall AG CEO Armin Papperger said.
“In making this forward-looking procurement decision, Hungary’s top political and military officials have demonstrated leadership in moving Hungary at the forefront of European army technology and underlining the Hungarian government’s commitment as a reliable partner of its NATO allies, a policy which it is pursuing with systematic energy.”
‘Backbone’ of Hungarian Infantry
The delivery follows a 2-billion-euro ($2 million) contract signed two years ago by Rheinmetall and the Hungarian Ministry of Defence.
Under the agreement, Rheinmetall will develop 209 Lynx vehicles in variants such as joint fire observer, mortar carrier, command post, field ambulance, and driver trainer.
The contract also includes providing related equipment and services, including training, simulators, spare parts, and maintenance support.
Once integrated into the Hungarian defense forces, the Lynx fleet is expected to “become the backbone of Hungary’s mechanised infantry forces.”
The Lynx KF41
Lynx infantry fighting vehicle variants are armed with a 30-millimeter Lance manned turret, 7.62-millimeter light machine gun, smoke grenade launchers, and optional Spike 2 LR anti-tank missile systems or drone launchers.
Each vehicle has a capacity of up to three crew members and eight infantry dismounts.
In 2021, Rheinmetall announced that all of the 209 Lynx vehicles ordered by Hungary would have a StrikeShield active protection system.