Hungary to produce Lynx IFVs

Hungary is to establish a joint venture with Rheinmetall to produce Lynx infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), Rheinmetall announced in a press release on 18 August. The agreement was signed in Unterlüss, Germany, the previous day.

Hungary and Rheinmetall are establishing a joint venture to produce the Lynx IFV. (Rheinmetall)

Rheinmetall referred to a major order of Lynx IFVs worth over EUR2 billion (USD1.8 billion), but few other details emerged about the deal, which is part of Hungary’s Zrinyi 2026 rearmament programme launched in 2017. Hungarian Ministry of Defence sources told Janes on 19 August that the details of the package, including industrial and procurement aspects, will be worked out within one to two months. Janes understands the new Lynx IFVs to be produced in Hungary will replace ageing BTR-80 and BTR-80A armoured personnel carriers (APCs).

Hungary is the first NATO and EU member state to select Düsseldorf-based Rheinmetall’s new IFV. The company quoted Hungarian Minister of Innovation and Technology László Palkovics and Commissioner for Defence Development Gáspár Maróth, who is also the national armaments director, as jointly declaring, “As part of its commitment to NATO, Hungary is replacing its heavy ground forces equipment. Following the tanks and artillery, it is now the turn of infantry fighting vehicles, which form the backbone of the capabilities set.”