Rheinmetall will export a Lynx Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) test chassis from Australia to the United States to participate in the US Army’s Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) Phase II Concept Design Phase.
American Rheinmetall Vehicles was one of five manufacturers given a firm-fixed price contract for the OMFV Phase II being selected alongside Point Blank Enterprises, Oshkosh Defense, BAE Systems Land and Armaments and General Dynamics Land Systems. The total value of the contracts is just under $300 million.
The Lynx IFV chassis that will participate in the trials will be built and exported from Rheinmetall’s factory in Queensland, Australia. Rheinmetall’s Lynx KF41 is currently one of the contenders for the Australian Defence Force’s Land 400 Phase 3 programme to replace the Australian Army’s M113AS4 armoured personnel carriers (APCs).
Rheinmetall Defence Australia managing director Gary Stewart stated: “Lynx is a next generation fighting vehicle with unmatched protection and lethality. Rheinmetall has developed a next generation electronic architecture to ensure onboard sensors, systems and effectors are able to be networked into defence’s broader network architecture.” He added that the Lynx destined for the United States was the first vehicle to be exported from Australia.
Following the Concept Design Phase, the US Army will progress to the Detailed Design Phase (Phase III), with the intention of awarding a further three contracts in Q2 of 2023. This will then be followed by Phase IV of the programme which will see the build and testing of actual prototypes. A downselect of one vender at Milestone C (for Low Rate Initial Production) is planned for Q4 of 2027.
by Andrew Drwiega
