Hungary receives first locally produced KF41 fighting vehicles

At a ceremony on July 24, 2024, Rheinmetall handed over the first KF41 Lynx infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) produced at the Zalaegerszeg site in Hungary to the Hungarian armed forces.

Defense Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky represented the Hungarian government at the event. Dr. Björn Bernhard, Head of Rheinmetall Vehicle Systems Europe, and Paul Walf, CEO of Rheinmetall Hungary, welcomed the guests on behalf of Rheinmetall.

The first Lynx from Hungarian production was completed in December 2023. Following extensive functional inspections, performance, and quality acceptances, it has now been officially handed over to the Hungarian armed forces.

- ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW -

Rheinmetall’s facility in Zalaegerszeg, opened in August 2023, is the world’s most modern competence center for the production of tracked armored vehicles, particularly the innovative Lynx.

Defence Minister Szalay-Bobrovniczky emphasized the strategic importance of the partnership with Rheinmetall: “I often say that peace requires strength, which means a lot of kinds of strength, and in this regard, we have gained real and serious strength with Rheinmetall and in this alliance, which significantly enriches Hungary. This is a kind of strategic partnership that is more than strategy or partnership – this is a real alliance, and within this framework, we hope to win the future for Hungarians, and we’re building something that will remain for the next generations, and we’re strengthening Hungary.”

Dr. Björn Bernhard highlighted Rheinmetall’s commitment: “We are grateful to be able to support the Hungarian armed forces as an industrial partner in the Lynx lighthouse project. We have now reached an important milestone within the project. With the production of the Lynx, we are seriously proving our commitment in creating local added value in Hungary and transferring technology to the country. This model is also transferable to other countries which might also be interested in similar partnerships.”

In August 2020, the Hungarian Ministry of Defence commissioned the Rheinmetall Group to supply combat vehicles and associated services worth over €2bn as part of its “Zrínyi 2026” initiative. A total of 209 Lynx KF41s are to be supplied to the Hungarian armed forces in seven variants: IFV, command post vehicle, armoured reconnaissance vehicle, fire control vehicle, mortar carrier, medical vehicle, and driving school vehicle. A Lynx air defence tank with a Skyranger 30 turret is also in progress as part of another development contract, placed in December 2023.

In the first production phase, Hungary will receive 46 German-made Lynx infantry fighting vehicles by the end of 2025. The first vehicle from this series was handed over in October 2022. Production of the remaining vehicles began at the end of 2023 as part of the Rheinmetall Hungary Zrt. joint venture between Rheinmetall (51%) and the Hungarian government (49%) in Zalaegerszeg.

The state-of-the-art development and manufacturing site in Zalaegerszeg spans approximately 33 hectares as part of the industrial complex ZALAZone. The site includes a test center equipped with a firing tunnel. Beyond strengthening the local economy, the factory creates around 300 highly qualified jobs and promotes innovation. Rheinmetall plans further investments to increase production capacity, strengthening the Hungarian economy and defense industry.

The Lynx KF41, with its modular design, offers maximum adaptability, meeting the Hungarian customer’s specific national requirements. This state-of-the-art infantry fighting vehicle features scalable armament, various layers of protection, upgradeable systems, and the ability to take on new roles after being fully converted.

If you would like to show your support for what we are doing, here's where to do it.

If you wish to report grammatical or factual errors within our news articles, you can let us know by using the online feedback form.

Executive Editor

About author:

Dylan Malyasov
Dylan Malyasov
Dylan Malyasov is the editor-in-chief of Defence Blog. He is a journalist, an accredited defense advisor, and a consultant. His background as a defense advisor and consultant adds a unique perspective to his journalistic endeavors, ensuring that his reporting is well-informed and authoritative. read more

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

TRENDING NOW

Russian missiles fall on home soil during strike on Ukraine

During a recent missile strike targeting Ukraine, several Russian cruise missiles once again ended up falling on Russian territory. On November 28, malfunctioning missiles launched...