The German military’s procurement agency has contracted KNDS Deutschland to modernize the Fennek reconnaissance vehicle.
A total of 30 Fennek 1A2 reconnaissance vehicles and 50 Joint Fire Support Team Fenneks will receive observation and reconnaissance equipment III as part of the upgrade, increasing the vehicles’ readiness for training, exercises, and operations.
The equipment includes a thermal imaging device, a day-vision camera, and a laser rangefinder placed on a rotating and tilting platform mounted on an extendable mast.
It also includes the planned integration of a laser target designator for laser-guided munitions.
Deliveries in 2027-2029
Funds for the procurement have been released by the German Parliament’s Budget Committee as part of a 25-million-euro ($27 million) proposal, according to Soldat & Technik.
The modernization will be financed through the Bundeswehr’s special budget and regular defense budget, with deliveries and integration expected between 2027 and 2029.
“With this modernization, the Bundeswehr will in future have a reconnaissance and identification capability that is tailored to the operational requirements of national and alliance defense,” Militar Aktuell quoted a project manager at the German military’s procurement agency as saying.
Planned Replacement
It comes as the German government is seeking replacement proposals for the Fennek, which was inducted into the German military in 2003.
Over 250 next-generation reconnaissance vehicles are being planned for procurement for the German Army, with expected options including Rheinmetall’s Fuchs, Patria’s Common Armored Vehicle System, General Dynamics European Land Systems’ Pandur II, and Iveco’s SuperAV.
