Rheinmetall To Deliver Fuchs 1A8 Vehicles To Germany In 2017

Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV) will be supplying the first of 90 additional upgraded MAN Military Vehicles Fuchs 1A8 6x6 armoured personnel carriers (APCs) in 2017. 

The contract worth $107 million (EUR100 million) was awarded by the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support. Final deliveries are due to be made in 2020, IHS Jane's 360 reported Monday.

The contract covers the upgrading of additional APC, command post, and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) vehicles, plus an option for future Joint Fire Support Coordination Team vehicles.

Under previous contracts, RMMV upgraded a number of earlier variants of the Fuchs to the 1A8 standard including APC, battlefield ambulance, command post vehicle, EOD, and NBC reconnaissance types.

The upgraded route clearance package operators' vehicle is fitted with a telescopic arm, alongside other elements that include systems for a remote-controlled Wiesel 1 fitted with ground penetrating radar.

The 1A8 configuration has many improvements over the earlier vehicle including additional passive armour to provide a higher level of protection against mines and improvised explosive devices. All the crew has blast attenuating seats that are not attached to the floor.

Other modifications include a strengthened armored steel hull, reinforced wheel housings, door and window mountings, and additional external stowage boxes to free up space within the troop compartment.

When originally introduced the Fuchs was armed with a 7.62 mm MG3 machine gun (MG) in an unprotected mount at the front right side, but this was subsequently replaced by a protected weapon station armed with a similar weapon.

Some upgraded Fuchs 1A8 have now been fitted with a Krauss-Maffei Wegmann FLW 200 remote weapon station (RWS) that has been provided as government furnished equipment. The RWS is located on a raised plinth on the roof of the vehicle - for greater area coverage - and is armed with a stabilised .50 calibre M2 HB MG and a day/night sensor package.