Place of origin Germany Designed 2015 | In service developmental | |
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Designer Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH Manufacturer Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH Variants family (outline details for IFV available) | ||
The Lynx is a family of tracked armoured vehicles developed by Rheinmetall Landsysteme (part of Rheinmetall’s Vehicle Systems division). The Lynx, in infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) configuration, was unveiled publicly at the Eurosatory defence exhibition on June 14, 2016.
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According to Rheinmetall, the Lynx family of tracked armoured vehicles is at the forefront of a new trend in IFV design toward armoured vehicles with lower unit and through-life costs and reduced complexity. One of the key principles of the Lynx concept is the integration of proven sub-systems with a high Technology Readiness Level to reduce development time, cost and technical risk.
Development
The Lynx family has been designed as a highly protected tracked armoured vehicle to fill a gap identified in the market by Rheinmetall.
Rheinmetall has offered the Lynx to the Australian Defence Force for Phase 3 of the Land 400 program, following Rheinmetall's submission of the Boxer wheeled armoured vehicle for Land 400 Phase 2.
Design
The feature at the heart of the Lynx design concept is the separation and modularity of the vehicle into two primary parts: the basic vehicle and specialist mission and role equipment.
Specific variants will be built around a common hull and common mobility assemblies and protection components, to which role and mission-specific equipment will be added on an as required basis.
This design approach combines the functional, cost and through life advantages of a modular structure, and the weight, space and cost advantages of an integral hull design.
Mobility
Final drives are mounted in the front and the idler sprockets with track tensioners are mounted at the rear. The running gear has six road wheel stations per side, which guide a lightweight steel or segmented rubber band-type track. The road wheels are mounted on a suspension system comprising swing arms with conventional torsion bars and damper systems, this set-up is proven to be reliable and cost-efficient.
The driver is located to the left front side of the hull, with the rear crew compartment designed as a mission neutral space with the incorporation of C-rails and a pattern of universal fixing points on the walls and floor. This provides a flexible configuration for all mission specific equipment. A large rear ramp for rapid ingress/egress of dismounts is positioned between the cooling systems.
Protection
The vehicle's ballistic armour is designed to protect the Lynx from anti-tank weapons, medium-calibre ammunition, artillery shrapnel, and bomblets. The interior is fitted with a spall liner to protect the crew, while the vehicle also mounts decoupled seats in addition to mine and IED protection packages.
The heating, cooling and nuclear, biological and chemical filtration system is combined in an environmental control system stowed in the rear-located left sponson in front of the cooling system. Air ducts lead to the floor and to an air duct interface on the top end of the hull.
Additional active protection can be provided for shaped charge warhead attack using Rheinmetall’s Active Protection System. A range of passive protection and defensive aids are also available, these being integrated into the Lance turret when fitted, and including the Rapid Obscuration System – Land, a laser warning system and an acoustic shot locator system.
Armament
The vehicle as shown at Eurosatory is outfitted with a LANCE turret mounting a stabilized, externally powered, automatic cannon of 35mm caliber, with airburst munition support. This allows the Lynx to engage targets at ranges of up to 3,000 meters, both when static and when on the move. The vehicle's main armament has an elevation of between +45˚ and -10˚, and has an average rate of fire of 200 rounds per minute.
The vehicle can also mount an optional anti-tank guided missile launcher. The demonstrator vehicle at Eurosatory 2016 was outfitted with a twin-round launcher for the Spike-LR ATGM.
Variants
The Lynx family of tracked armored vehicles can be configured for a variety of roles that include command and control, armored reconnaissance, repair and recovery, or ambulance operations in addition to infantry fighting vehicle configuration.
This model, displayed at Eurosatory 2016, has a gross vehicle weight of between 30 and 38 tonnes, is 7.22 meters long, and can carry a crew of three plus six passengers. Powered by a 750 hp (563 kW) engine, the vehicle can reach a top speed of 65 km/h. It is currently being marketed to Australia for their LAND 400 Phase 3 program. Kettenfahrzeug 31 ("tracked vehicle 31") is a German-specific designation and would not be used for export sales.
The larger variant for which details have been outlined has a gross vehicle weight of between 38 and 44 tonnes, is 7.73 meters long, and can carry a crew of three plus eight passengers. It would be powered by a larger 1,050 hp (800 kW) engine, and have a top speed of 70 km/h (43 mph). Kettenfahrzeug 41 is a German-specific designation and would not be used for export sales.
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Operators
Potential Operators