Ukraine selects Germany’s Rheinmetall Lynx KF41 as its main infantry fighting vehicle.

Ukraine has formally selected the German-made Rheinmetall Lynx KF41 as its future standard infantry fighting vehicle and will begin local production under a new bilateral agreement with Germany.

According to Defence Network on October 25, 2025, Ukraine has apparently officially selected the Rheinmetall Lynx KF41 as its future main infantry fighting vehicle following testing and evaluation of the vehicle delivered from Hungary in late 2024. According to insiders, during a meeting held last week, an agreement was signed between the defense ministers of Ukraine and Germany enabling joint production inside Ukraine through Rheinmetall and the state-owned defense group Ukroboronprom.
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This decision marks a turning point for Ukraine, which had previously accepted every infantry fighting vehicle offered through foreign donations, but had lacked a single IFV model suitable for mass production. (Picture source: Rheinmetall)

Insider reports indicate that Ukraine has now officially selected the German-made Rheinmetall Lynx KF41 as its standard infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) for domestic production, following a period in which it had accepted every infantry fighting vehicle offered through foreign donations but lacked its own production line. The decision was reached after extended evaluation and testing of the first Lynx, manufactured in Hungary, which arrived in Ukraine at the end of 2024 for trials. During a Ramstein-format meeting held last week, the defense ministers of Ukraine and Germany signed an agreement providing for the joint production of the Lynx in Ukraine. Rheinmetall plans to establish a new factory inside the country by the end of 2025, working in partnership with the Ukrainian state defense conglomerate Ukroboronprom. This marks a turning point for Ukraine, which until now relied on imported and donated armored vehicles from multiple sources without a unified production strategy, as its armed forces had not yet chosen a single model.

The agreement enables Ukraine to begin the serial production of a single standardized IFV, compatible with NATO maintenance and logistics systems, while localizing production, strengthening national industrial capabilities, and reducing dependence on external procurement amid continuing conflict. Positioning the Lynx KF41 as the foundation of Ukraine’s future armored fleet modernization, the bilateral agreement builds upon the joint venture Rheinmetall Ukrainian Defense Industry LLC, created in October 2023, which has so far focused on repair and maintenance of armored vehicles in western Ukraine. The new phase expands this cooperation to full-scale Lynx production. Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger previously mentioned a potential framework contract covering several hundred Lynx vehicles, though no specific quantities have been disclosed.

Testing and acceptance trials of the Lynx in Ukraine are taking place away from combat zones and will benefit from prior evaluation work conducted in Hungary. The German government has already approved export licenses allowing the transfer of components, tooling, and technical data necessary for local assembly. Rheinmetall’s plan is to deliver the first Ukrainian-assembled Lynx vehicles before 2027, depending on financing arrangements and industrial readiness. Negotiations are ongoing between Rheinmetall, the German government, and Kyiv regarding funding mechanisms for the project, as Berlin awaits a formal procurement request before committing to state-backed financial support. Once operational, the new facility would mark Ukraine’s first large-scale armored vehicle manufacturing line established during the ongoing war, completing the shift from repair-based cooperation to integrated production.

The KF41 Lynx employs a modular design architecture separating a base drive module from an interchangeable mission module, allowing rapid configuration changes for different operational roles. The vehicle can be adapted for infantry combat, reconnaissance, command and control, medical evacuation, mortar transport, or short-range air defense. This modularity is intended to streamline logistics and simplify training, since the same chassis and drivetrain can host multiple mission systems. Rheinmetall has demonstrated this adaptability through the Skyranger 35 air-defense variant, which mounts a 35 mm revolver cannon turret on the KF41 chassis to counter drones, helicopters, and cruise missiles. Other mission packages developed for international users include anti-tank, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare modules, which could also be produced in Ukraine in future stages of cooperation. The shared architecture between user nations such as Hungary, Italy, and Ukraine may eventually enable joint maintenance networks and common spare part inventories. This modularity, combined with digital integration capability, allows the KF41 to evolve over time with upgraded sensors, software, and weapon systems without requiring new platform development.

The KF41’s main configuration features the LANCE 2.0 turret equipped with a 35 mm Wotan automatic cannon and optional Spike LR2 anti-tank guided missiles for long-range precision engagement. The turret includes a stabilized electro-optical sight, laser warning receivers, and a fire-control computer to support automatic target tracking and engagement. Its modular armor protection provides resistance to 30 mm ammunition on the frontal arc and 14.5 mm rounds on the sides, while an armored double floor improves survivability against mines and improvised explosive devices equivalent to 10 kg of TNT. Crew safety systems include decoupled seating and spall liners throughout the fighting compartment. Additional survivability measures consist of Rheinmetall’s ROSY smoke protection system, the Acoustic Shooter Localization System (ASLS), and the optional StrikeShield active protection system for intercepting anti-tank weapons. The open-architecture electronics allow integration of new sensors or counter-drone tools, which is a growing requirement for frontline operations. The KF41 accommodates three crew members—driver, gunner, and commander—and carries up to eight or nine fully equipped soldiers in the rear compartment, providing combined transport and combat capability.

The vehicle is powered by an 850 kW (1,140 horsepower) Liebherr D9612 diesel engine coupled with a Renk automatic transmission, allowing a maximum road speed of 70 kilometers per hour and an operational range exceeding 500 kilometers on a 900-liter fuel capacity. Its combat weight ranges from approximately 44 to 50 tonnes, depending on configuration and armor kit. The suspension system, developed by Supashock, provides adjustable damping for stability over rough terrain and supports varied survivability packages. The powertrain uses components common to other European vehicles, such as the Puma and Ajax, reducing logistical complexity and ensuring spare part availability across allied fleets. The vehicle’s track system is compatible with lightweight steel or segmented rubber tracks, giving operators flexibility for different terrain types. The Lynx can negotiate 60 percent gradients, traverse 30 percent side slopes, and climb vertical obstacles up to one meter. It can cross trenches 2.5 meters wide and ford water obstacles up to 1.5 meters deep without preparation. These performance parameters place the KF41 among the most mobile vehicles in its weight class, suitable for both mechanized offensive and defensive operations across open and urban terrain.

The establishment of Lynx production in Ukraine represents a major element of Rheinmetall’s long-term industrial strategy to integrate Ukrainian manufacturing capacity into the European defense supply chain. The German company’s orders with Ukraine increased from around 900 million euros in 2022 to approximately 2.5 billion euros in 2023, covering armored vehicles, ammunition, and maintenance services. Rheinmetall plans to expand ammunition output across new facilities in Germany, Lithuania, and Ukraine to exceed 1.1 million shells annually, including about 700,000 artillery rounds and 10,000 tons of propellant. The transfer of technology for vehicle production is expected to create a qualified Ukrainian workforce trained in armored assembly, welding, machining, and quality control. In addition, the local facility will support the repair of Leopard tanks, Marder infantry vehicles, and Gepard anti-aircraft systems already in Ukrainian service. The long-term goal is to establish a fully autonomous industrial base capable of producing, maintaining, and upgrading armored vehicles without external dependency. Ukrainian officials have emphasized that this capacity will also support post-war reconstruction by developing dual-use engineering and manufacturing expertise.

For Ukraine, adopting the Lynx KF41 constitutes a modernization step from Soviet-era BMP-series IFVs toward a new generation of armored vehicles compatible with NATO standards. The KF41’s digital systems, modular structure, and scalable protection align with Ukraine’s need for survivable, adaptable, and networked vehicles in a high-intensity conflict environment. The program also strengthens the defense partnership with Germany, which has already provided Leopard 1 and Leopard 2 tanks, Marder IFVs, and air defense systems through bilateral and ring-exchange mechanisms. In operational terms, the Lynx is expected to enhance Ukraine’s ability to sustain combined-arms maneuvers under drone-saturated conditions and against modern anti-armor threats. The transition to domestic production will gradually reduce the logistical burden of maintaining diverse foreign fleets while ensuring faster repair cycles and spare parts availability. If production proceeds as planned, the first Ukrainian-built Lynx IFVs could enter service by 2027, representing both a technological upgrade for the armed forces and a step toward long-term industrial independence. Like Hungary, the partnership with Rheinmetall positions Ukraine as a future regional producer of modern armored systems within the European defense landscape.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.