This year, Germany’s Rheinmetall will launch production of Lynx infantry fighting vehicles in Ukraine.

Oleksandr Kamyshin, Ukraine’s Minister of Strategic Industries, stated this in a commentary to a Dumky (Thoughts – ed.) correspondent in Berlin during the Ukraine Recovery Conference.

Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall AG, also confirmed this information to the German publication Handelsblatt.

According to Kamyshin, the German concern Rheinmetall will produce the first unit of Lynx infantry fighting vehicles in Ukraine this year.

“Why Lynx? It is one of the most modern IFVs. For our European partners, this is a good opportunity to test it in combat and make it better. And our soldiers need every additional vehicle that will help them stand at the front,” Oleksandr Kamyshin was quoted by Dumky.

He noted that the manufacturers responsible for the final product will know the equipment’s details better.

Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall AG, confirmed that the first IFV in Ukraine will be produced this year:

“This year, we will have the first Lynx made in Ukraine,” Armin Papperger said.

However, Papperger expressed concern about the budget for defense projects in Ukraine. He added that budget planning is only 6-12 months in advance. He noted that the political leadership of the countries should agree to increase funding.

KF41 Lynx is a heavy IFV, weighing about 44 tons, introduced by Rheinmetall in 2018.

Its main armament is a LANCE turret with a 30- or 35-mm gun and an anti-tank missile launcher, which can be equipped according to customer requirements. The crew of the combat vehicle is three people. Up to nine fighters can be accommodated for landing.

The IFV is protected from 30 mm shells in the frontal projection and from 14.5 mm in the lateral ones. The bottom of the vehicle guarantees explosion protection equivalent to 10 kg of TNT. The IFV is powered by a 1470-strong Liebherr D9612 engine, which allows it to reach a speed of 70 km/h. The range along the highway is 500 km.