Germany has approved the delivery of Rheinmetall Fuchs 6x6 personnel carrier assembly to Algeria 250

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Defence & Security News - Germany / Algeria
 
 
Monday, August 25, 2014 06:07 PM
 
Germany has approved the delivery of Rheinmetall Fuchs 6x6 personnel carrier assembly to Algeria.
Germany's Economy Ministry has approved plans by defence group Rheinmetall to deliver a tank assembly plant to Algeria, according to a reply sent by the ministry following a request from a member of parliament. Rheinmetall's delivery to Algeria includes a production line to assemble the Fuchs wheeled armoured transport vehicle, as well as other parts valued at more than 28 million euros ($37 million), according to the document.
     
     
The planned factory, located about 400 km east of Algeria's capital Algiers, is to build nearly 1,000 armoured vehicles, Der Spiegel said, adding parts would be exported to the country, where workers would assemble them.

The deal is the result of a visit to Algeria by German Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2008 and was largely approved by the previous government, Der Spiegel said.

Earlier this year, Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel said he would tighten rules on arms exports, curbing sales to states such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia, whose purchases had previously helped make Germany the world's third largest arms exporter.

Germany earlier this month permanently halted Rheinmetall's planned export of combat simulation equipment to Russia, going beyond recently imposed European Union sanctions which block future defence contracts.

The FUCHS TPz1 is a German 6x6 armoured vehicle personnel carrier developed by Daimler-Benz and built by Thyssen-Henschel in 1979. The latest variants of the vehicle are marketed by the German Company Rheinmetall Defence.

The troop/cargo compartment is at the rear of the vehicle and is 3.2 m long, 1.25 m high and 1.5 m wide at its widest point. The Fuchs can carry a total of 10 infantrymen seated on individual bucket seats, five down each side of the hull. The all-welded steel hull of the Transportpanzer 1 protects the crew from small arms fire and shell splinters.
     
Late 2001, German Company Rheinmetall Landsysteme has designed a new version of the Fuchs under the name of Fuchs 2. The all-welded steel armour hull provides the occupants with protection from 7.62 mm armour piercing attack. The Fuchs 2 can be also fitted with armour kit to provide protection against 12.7 and 14.5 mm armour-piercing attack, artillery fragments and mines.
Rheinmetall Fuchs 2 6x6 armoured personnel carrier
     
Late 2001, German Company Rheinmetall Landsysteme has designed a new version of the Fuchs under the name of Fuchs 2. The all-welded steel armour hull provides the occupants with protection from 7.62 mm armour piercing attack. The Fuchs 2 can be also fitted with armour kit to provide protection against 12.7 and 14.5 mm armour-piercing attack, artillery fragments and mines.

The troop compartment roof has been raised 145 mm for greater internal volume compare with the Fuchs 1 and the roof-mounted air inlet/outlet louvres have been redesigned.

DaimlerChrysler axles have been installed on the Fuchs 2, which has enabled the payload to be increased by 4,000 kg to a maximum of 9,400 kg.

The Fuchs 2 is motorized with a MTU 6V 199 TE20 turbocharged low-mission diesel engine which develops 425 hp and meets EURO III emission standards. This is coupled to a ZF 6 HP 602 fully automatic six-speed transmission with integrated retarder.

With a maximum combat weight of 20,000 kg the Fuchs 2 is fully amphibious, being propelled in the water by two Schottel propellers mounted one either side of the hull at the rear.

The Fuchs 2 can be fitted with a full range of weapons as a 12.7 mm M2 heavy machine gun or a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher.