Germany's cutting-edge KF41 Lynx en route to aid Ukraine

The German KF41 Lynx will soon enhance the diverse equipment the Ukrainian army uses. Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger confirmed this in an interview. The first shipment to Ukraine will include 10 units, but Ukraine's long-term requirement is estimated at 3,000 vehicles of this type.

The funding source for this German assistance remains unclear. The money is anticipated to come from a loan provided to Ukraine by the G7 or from interest on Russian assets held in Western banks, which were frozen after Russia invaded Ukraine.

The KF41 will be the Ukrainian army's most modern infantry fighting vehicle. Unlike most equipment provided to Ukraine, this German vehicle is new and just entering service. Hungary has purchased it, and Italy is expected to order it along with the KF51 Panther tank.

German plans include producing another armored vehicle in Ukraine alongside the KF41—the wheeled armored personnel carrier TPz 1 Fuchs. Although Fuchs is based on an older design, it continues to evolve and is still in production. Rheinmetall also plans to establish its ammunition production line in Ukraine and produce KF51 Panther tanks.

The KF41 is a tracked infantry fighting vehicle developed by Rheinmetall. It is armed with a 30—or 35 mm caliber rapid-fire cannon, a machine gun, and an optional dual launcher for Spike-LR/LR2 anti-tank guided missiles. As an alternative to ATGMs, it can be equipped with pods containing miniature drones.

The Lynx has a crew of three and can carry up to eight dismounted troops. It measures 25 feet long and weighs between 66,000 and 99,000 pounds, depending on its configuration and armor. Its chassis can be adapted to build other combat vehicles, such as a fire support vehicle with a 120-mm cannon.

The KF41 Lynx is primarily intended for export. The German Bundeswehr has ordered a different infantry fighting vehicle, the Puma, also produced by Rheinmetall, for its own use.