Rheinmetall CEO supports Lynx IFV testing in Ukraine as a step toward future joint armored production.

On July 13, 2025, Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger confirmed in an interview with BILD that the Lynx KF41 infantry fighting vehicle is still undergoing testing in Ukraine. This clarification comes after months without official updates. The testing is being conducted away from active combat zones.
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The Lynx is based on a modular architecture, which allows the adaptation for roles including infantry fighting, reconnaissance, command and control, air defense, medical evacuation, and forward artillery observation. (Picture source: Rheinmetall)

To date, Ukraine has reportedly not yet made a decision to procure the vehicle. The first Lynx unit was delivered to Ukraine from Rheinmetall’s Unterlüß facility at the end of 2024, as previously disclosed by Papperger to F.A.Z. in January 2025. In October 2024, he had stated that up to ten vehicles would be provided for evaluation, but no additional deliveries have occurred since the initial one, according to German Aid to Ukraine. The reasons for the lack of further deliveries remain unspecified. It is unclear whether this delay results from trial-related issues, production limitations, lack of financial resources, or a reassessment by Ukrainian authorities that additional units are not required for ongoing testing.

Rheinmetall has not provided details regarding the current status of the Lynx’s evaluation. However, Papperger suggested that prior testing conducted in Hungary could reduce the time required for Ukrainian assessments. Despite this, no timeline has been made public, and Rheinmetall has only indicated a general desire to conclude the process promptly. Delays in finalizing the trials risk further postponing Rheinmetall’s goal of initiating serial production of the Lynx in Ukraine by 2027. This would mark the second significant shift in the program’s schedule. At the same time, negotiations between Rheinmetall and the German federal government concerning the financing of the potential Ukrainian acquisition remain unresolved. These discussions have been ongoing for over a year. Berlin is reportedly waiting for a formal procurement request and demand signal from Kyiv before advancing with any financial commitments.

In an interview with TSN in 2024, Papperger previously estimated the total potential requirement of the Ukrainian Armed Forces at approximately 3,000 Lynx vehicles. He has also stated that such a quantity is currently beyond the available budget. A full acquisition on that scale is considered unlikely, with the actual order expected to involve several hundred vehicles to be produced and delivered over the course of the next decade. Rheinmetall's objective is not only to supply Ukraine with finished vehicles but to establish production and maintenance capacity within the country. For this to proceed, a procurement agreement, German state backing, and Ukrainian political approval are all required. The uncertainty surrounding the ongoing testing phase and financing discussions continues to delay progress toward local production.

The industrial partnership between Rheinmetall and Ukraine includes a joint venture established in October 2023, named Rheinmetall Ukrainian Defense Industry LLC, formed in cooperation with the state-owned conglomerate Ukroboronprom. The company’s facility in western Ukraine is currently focused on the repair and maintenance of military vehicles, but plans are in place to expand its scope to full vehicle production. Ukrainian Strategic Industries Minister Oleksandr Kamyshin stated in mid-2024 that the first Lynx built in Ukraine should be completed by the end of the year. In parallel, Papperger reaffirmed that the German government has already approved the necessary export licenses to support the transfer of technology and components for production. Rheinmetall and Ukrainian authorities intend to build on this infrastructure to enable long-term industrial output, with Lynx production targeted to begin locally no later than 2027.

The Lynx KF41 IFV is designed with a modular architecture based on a common drive module and interchangeable mission modules. This configuration allows the platform to be adapted for roles including infantry fighting, reconnaissance, command and control, air defense, medical evacuation, and forward artillery observation. The vehicle is equipped with the LANCE 2.0 turret integrating a 35mm Wotan automatic cannon. It can also be fitted with Spike LR2 anti-tank guided missiles. Additional systems include Rheinmetall’s Acoustic Shooter Localization System (ASLS), the ROSY smoke protection system, and modular ballistic and mine protection kits. The digital open-architecture design supports rapid system upgrades and integration of new capabilities. The Lynx accommodates a crew of three and carries up to eight soldiers. It features a sensor suite including a stabilized electro-optical sight and laser warning receivers, enabling battlefield awareness and automatic target recognition functions.

The Lynx KF41 is powered by an 850 kW Liebherr diesel engine combined with a Renk transmission. It can reach speeds up to 70 kilometers per hour and operate over distances exceeding 500 kilometers with a 900-liter fuel capacity. The vehicle has a combat weight of approximately 44 tons and includes a Supashock-developed suspension system designed to support varied survivability and mobility packages. Rheinmetall emphasizes the adaptability of the Lynx platform for future modifications. Seven variants of the KF41 have already been ordered by Hungary, including versions configured as command posts, reconnaissance platforms, mortar carriers, medical vehicles, and driver training models. Australia tested the Lynx in the LAND 400 Phase 3 program as a candidate to replace the M113AS4, and Italy also selected the platform for its armed forces. Production for Hungary is already underway, and serial production in Italy is expected in collaboration with Leonardo.

Rheinmetall views the Lynx program as part of its broader effort to position itself as a central industrial defense partner to Ukraine. The company has already delivered Leopard 1 and Leopard 2 tanks, Marder IFVs, and Gepard anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine, either directly or through ring exchange arrangements with European partners. Rheinmetall is also the largest supplier of 155mm artillery ammunition to Ukraine, with production being scaled up across new facilities in Germany, Lithuania, and Ukraine. The company’s stated long-term goal is to increase annual ammunition output to over 1.1 million rounds, including 700,000 artillery shells and 10,000 tons of propellant. Papperger has reported that Rheinmetall’s contracts and orders with Ukraine reached approximately €900 million in 2022 and €2.5 billion in 2023. The company aims to expand this further, contingent on political alignment and the successful implementation of localized production.