Germany boosts Bundeswehr with a €4 billion investment in Fuchs transporters
Germany plans to allocate 4 billion euros to acquire 900 Fuchs Armoured Transporters, aiming to enhance the Bundeswehr's mobility significantly. Here's an insight into the capabilities of the German "Fox."
As Bloomberg reported, the German parliament is set to approve defence spending of 7 billion euros, including purchasing two F126 frigates (3 billion euros) and 900 Fuchs Armoured Transporters (4 billion euros).
The vehicles, scheduled for production by Rheinmetall, will start being delivered in 2025. It is crucial to understand that these Fuchs vehicles are intended to complement, rather than replace, the GTK Boxer transporters, serving essentially as "armoured taxis" for the Bundeswehr.
The Bundeswehr's Armoured "Fox"
The design of the Fuchs Armoured Transporters was commissioned to Daimler-Benz by the Bundeswehr in the 1970s, seeking a swift, armoured vehicle adept at traversing challenging terrains.
Making its service debut in 1979, the Fuchs ("Fox" in English) is a six-wheeled vehicle weighing 17 tonnes and capable of carrying a payload of up to 6 tonnes. It is adept at navigating aquatic obstacles and rugged terrains, thanks partly to its in-cab tyre pressure regulation system and a powerful 320 HP diesel engine, enhancing its mobility.
Designed primarily for transporting infantry troops or cargo on the front lines. Its armour protects against artillery shrapnel and small arms fire. For self-defence, it is equipped with a universal machine gun MG3.
The vehicle's crew consists of two soldiers, with additional space for up to ten soldiers in the rear section. The Fuchs has been adapted into numerous variants, including medical evacuation, command, contamination reconnaissance, and electronic warfare vehicles.
Introduced in the 2000s, the upgraded version, named "Evolution," brought several improvements, including digitized communication systems, a more robust 455 HP engine, enhanced mine and ballistic protection, a 20 cm higher roof for the crew compartment, and a payload capacity of up to 9 tonnes.
The newest Fuchs models will also feature a remotely operated weapon module capable of housing a machine gun or an automatic grenade launcher, marking a significant upgrade to the Bundeswehr's fleet of vehicles.
