The Lynx KF41 is Rheinmetall's heavy tracked infantry fighting vehicle, built around a modular KF41 chassis, Lance turret options, open digital architecture, and enough protected volume for a three-person crew plus dismounts. Hungary became the first NATO customer and production host, while Ukraine's Russia-Ukraine War entry is currently documented through German-financed supply and evaluation rather than verified battlefield employment.
Rheinmetall announced a December 2025 contract for the first five Ukraine-configured Lynx KF41 IFVs, financed by Germany and scheduled for early 2026 delivery, after Ukrainian testing that Defense News reported included a single late-2024 evaluation vehicle.
Role detailsThe current public record supports a Ukrainian procurement and evaluation row, not a confirmed combat-use claim. Rheinmetall announced a first batch of five Germany-financed Lynx KF41 IFVs for Ukraine after extensive testing, and Defense News reported that one vehicle had already gone to Ukraine in late 2024 for evaluation.
Five Lynx KF41 combat vehicles under a December 2025 contract financed by Germany.
Sources: Rheinmetall Lynx to Ukraine; Defense News Ukraine Lynx Report.
Two-person Lance turret, with Rheinmetall describing the vehicles as configured for Ukraine's armed forces.
Source: Rheinmetall Lynx to Ukraine.
The cited sources document delivery plans, evaluation, and procurement; they do not document front-line combat employment.
Source-backed conflict role is therefore supply, training, protected mobility, and fire-support capability.
Rheinmetall frames the KF41 as a common tracked vehicle base rather than a single fixed IFV. Mission equipment can be changed around the base vehicle, while the digital architecture, protected interior volume, and growth margin are intended to support national variants and later technology insertion.
Rheinmetall says the Lynx family uses a common role-kit approach and offers more than 70 percent commonality within the family.
Source: Rheinmetall Lynx Product Page.
IFV, command, reconnaissance, joint-fire-support, recovery, ambulance, mortar, Lynx 120, and Skyranger air-defense roles are identified in Rheinmetall material.
Sources: Rheinmetall Lynx Product Page; Rheinmetall Hungarian Lynx Production.
Rheinmetall lists a 6.43 cubic meter crew compartment sized for three crew members and eight soldiers.
Source: Rheinmetall Lynx Product Page.
Rheinmetall presents Lynx as a modular vehicle family: the KF41 chassis can be fitted as an infantry fighting vehicle or reconfigured for command, reconnaissance, support, ambulance, mortar, and air-defense roles.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lynx KF41 IFV with Lance turret | Standard infantry fighting vehicle configuration | Rheinmetall says Hungary's Lynx order includes standard IFVs, and the Ukraine batch will use a two-person Lance turret configured for Ukrainian armed-forces requirements. Sources: Rheinmetall Lynx to Ukraine, Rheinmetall Hungarian Lynx Production |
| Lynx command post vehicle | Command-and-control mission module | Rheinmetall lists a command post vehicle among the Hungarian KF41 contract variants. |
| Lynx reconnaissance vehicle | Reconnaissance mission module | Rheinmetall lists a reconnaissance vehicle among the Hungarian KF41 contract variants. |
| Lynx forward artillery observer vehicle | Joint fires observation variant | Rheinmetall lists a forward artillery observer vehicle among the Hungarian KF41 contract variants. |
| Lynx mortar track | Mortar-carrier variant | Rheinmetall identifies a mortar track as one of the contract variants for Hungary. |
| Lynx field ambulance | Medical evacuation/support variant | Rheinmetall lists a field ambulance version among the Hungarian KF41 variants. |
| Lynx Skyranger 30 | Mobile air-defense variant | Rheinmetall says a Lynx mobile air-defense vehicle with a Skyranger 30 turret was added for Hungary through a December 2023 conceptual-development contract. |
| Lynx 120 | Heavy direct-fire support variant | Rheinmetall's product page lists a Lynx 120 heavy fire-support vehicle using a Hitfact turret. Sources: Rheinmetall Lynx Product Page |
Rheinmetall markets the Lynx KF41 as an IFV platform with optional anti-tank missile integration as part of its turret and mission-system architecture.
| Carried item | Item type | Carriage evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Anti-tank guided missile | Rheinmetall's Lynx product page and official video identify the Lynx KF41 firing an integrated Spike anti-tank guided missile. Sources: Rheinmetall Lynx Product Page, Rheinmetall Lynx Spike Video |
Rheinmetall says Hungary's ministry of defence awarded a contract worth more than 2 billion euros for Lynx IFVs and related products and services.
Sources: Rheinmetall Hungarian Lynx Production
Rheinmetall says the first Lynx vehicle was transferred to the Hungarian military in October 2022 during the German-built phase.
Sources: Rheinmetall Hungarian Lynx Production
Rheinmetall announced the first Lynx IFV built at the Zalaegerszeg plant, with transfer to the Hungarian armed forces planned after inspection.
Sources: Rheinmetall Hungarian Lynx Production
Rheinmetall says the first Ukraine Lynx contract was signed in December 2025 for five combat vehicles financed by Germany.
Sources: Rheinmetall Lynx to Ukraine
Rheinmetall announced that Ukraine was set to receive its first Lynx KF41 IFVs at the beginning of 2026 after extensive testing.
Sources: Rheinmetall Lynx to Ukraine, Defense News Ukraine Lynx Report
