Italian Army Conducts Testing on Hungarian-Made Lynx Armored Vehicle
Rheinmetall Confirms Production of Lynx Infantry Fighting Vehicle in Hungary
Rheinmetall has confirmed that the Lynx infantry fighting vehicle received by the Italian army for testing was indeed produced in Hungary, as reported by the Combatant blog. The production at the Zalaegerszeg plant in western Hungary began in 2023, with the first vehicle assembled there completed last year.
The Lynx is an armored infantry fighting vehicle developed by Germany’s Rheinmetall in recent years. The Hungarian Defense Forces were the first regular customer for the Lynx KF41, with the first combat vehicle delivered at the end of 2022. Subsequently, new units have been continuously arriving, and the Hungarian army is now also receiving units from the Hungarian factory in Zalaegerszeg.
The Italian army is planning to purchase 350 tracked IFVs to replace the currently in-service 200 Dardo IFVs and M113 tracked armored personnel carriers. According to a Memorandum of Understanding announced in July 2024 between Rheinmetall and Italy’s Leonardo, the Lynx KF41 will be the expected platform for the AICS program, as part of the KF51 Panther selected for Italy’s MBT program.
On the last day of 2024, the Italian Defense Magazine reported that a Lynx vehicle, likely related to the above news, had arrived in the country for testing.
The Combatant blog reached out to Rheinmetall to inquire if the vehicle received by Italy for testing was manufactured in Hungary. Rheinmetall confirmed that the Lynx KF-41 delivered to the Italian armed forces on December 31, 2024, was indeed manufactured in Zalaegerszeg. It was described as one of the most modern combat vehicle factories globally and was a temporary export for demonstration purposes to the Italian Army.
Rheinmetall Hungary expressed gratitude for the opportunity to support this project. The Lynx, being the most advanced IFV in service, provides excellent network management, protection, mobility, and firepower. Its modular design allows for configuration to a wide range of tasks.
Italy, as a potential NATO and EU Lynx user nation, would offer the Hungarian Army various benefits in terms of training, interoperability, and supply. This development signifies a significant step in the collaboration between Rheinmetall’s Hungarian production facility and the Italian military.
