The Leonardo-Rheinmetall joint venture has been awarded a contract to supply 21 Lynx KF-41 infantry fighting vehicles to the Italian Army.
The deal represents the first delivery order under the Army Armoured Combat System (A2CS) program, which includes plans to procure approximately 1,000 vehicles.
Of the initial batch, five vehicles will be equipped with Rheinmetall’s Lance turret and 16 with Leonardo’s Hitfist 30mm system.
The agreement further provides for upgrading the entire fleet to the Hitfist configuration, options for an additional 30 vehicles, and the delivery of training and simulation systems to support crew instruction.
Delivery of the first vehicle is expected by the end of 2025.
“This first joint order following the decision to establish a joint venture between Rheinmetall and Leonardo is an important milestone,” executive chairman of Leonardo Rheinmetall Military Vehicles Joint Venture David Hoeder said.
“It brings the two companies, as well as two of Europe’s largest countries closer together. Cooperation is not optional anymore – it is the very essence of our European strategic sovereignty.”
Around 60 percent of the activities — including integration, qualification testing, delivery, and logistical support, as well as portions of production and development — will be carried out in Italy.
Lynx KF-41
A larger variant of the KF31 infantry fighting vehicle unveiled in 2016, the KF41 features a modular design with a separate base drive module and interchangeable mission module, enabling rapid reconfiguration for different operational roles.
With a combat weight of approximately 50 tonnes (50,000 kilograms/110,231 pounds) compared to the KF31’s 35 tonnes (35,000 kilograms/77,162 pounds), the KF41 accommodates a crew of three and eight passengers.
It is powered by an 850-kilowatt (1,140-horsepower) engine and can reach a top speed of 65 kilometers/40 miles per hour.
In its main configuration, the KF41 is fitted with the Lance 2.0 turret, which houses a 35mm Wotan automatic cannon and incorporates two modular mission pods on either side to mount a range of subsystems, including Spike LR2 anti-tank guided missiles, loitering munitions, an electronic warfare package, or unmanned aerial vehicle.
The combat vehicle is equipped with active, passive, and reactive protection systems designed to counter rocket-propelled grenades and anti-tank guided missiles.
The Lynx KF41’s modular architecture enables configuration for a wide range of missions, including infantry fighting, command and control, armored personnel transport, reconnaissance, medical evacuation, and repair and recovery roles.
