Rheinmetall reported on 29 January 2024 that an “international partner”, which ESD believes is likely to be Algeria or Ukraine, had awarded it an order to supply components for producing the Fuchs 2 wheeled armoured vehicle at a factory in the partner country.
Booked in December 2023, the order is worth a figure in the three-digit million-euro range, according to Rheinmetall, which added that delivery of the kits, both for production and conversion, starts this year and will be complete in 2028.
Ten years ago, in 2014, the German Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy confirmed that it had approved the transfer of production equipment to Algeria for production of Fuchs 2 vehicles. While the first batch of 54 Fuchs 2s for Algeria came from the German production line, there was a progressive transfer of production to Algeria, which reportedly had a requirement for 980 Fuchs 2s.
In October 2023, meanwhile, Rheinmetall founded a joint venture (JV) with Ukrainian state-owned company Ukrainian Defense Industry JSC (formerly Ukroboronprom) in Kiev called Rheinmetall Ukrainian Defense Industry LLC. A first step for the JV was planned to be the repair and maintenance of combat vehicles, “followed by production in Ukraine of armoured vehicles like the Fuchs armoured transport vehicle, the Lynx infantry fighting vehicle and Panther main battle tank”, Rheinmetall stated at the time. “The objective is to turn Ukraine into an efficient partner, to rebuild its once-powerful defence sector, and to assure its strategic autonomy,” the company added.
“The production facility in the partner country has seen an increase in added value in recent years as well as investments to ensure high-quality machining, welding and surface treatment,” Rheinmetall stated in its 29 January press release. “This long-standing strategic partnership is thus entering a new, promising phase, including the potential export of Fuchs 2 vehicles produced in the partner country.”
The mention of Fuchs 2 exports from the partner country might suggest that it is more likely to be Algeria rather than Ukraine, as the latter would be less likely to export any armoured vehicles it produces while the country is still at war with invading Russian forces.
The Fuchs 6×6 wheeled armoured vehicle has been in service with the Bundeswehr as for almost half a century, while around 1,800 Fuchs vehicles have been built to date. The armed forces of around a dozen nations deploy various versions of the vehicle, which can be used as an armoured personnel carrier, mobile command post, field ambulance or NBC reconnaissance vehicle. The Bundeswehr has fielded multiple versions of the Fuchs 1 since 1979, deploying over a hundred of these vehicles to Afghanistan and elsewhere.
The Fuchs 2 is an advanced version of the Fuchs 1 featuring a larger interior, a more powerful engine, an updated chassis, improved modern protection, and a digital electrical system.
The Bundeswehr has a total of around 940 Fuchs vehicles in its inventory, 272 of which are Fuch 1A8s, which offer substantially better protection against mines and improvised explosive devices compared to earlier models, as well as enhanced protection against ballistic threats.
Among the principal modifications found in the Fuchs 1A8 are structural changes to the hull, new seats and seat suspension systems in the fighting compartment for decoupling from the floor of the hull, reinforced wheel housings, doors and window mountings, additional storage boxes and reinforcement of the vehicle exterior.
