First Lynx Infantry Fighting Vehicle Rolls Off Rheinmetall Plant in Hungary

21 December, 2023 The first serial Lynx IFV produced in Hungary. Photo credits: Rheinmetall. The first Lynx infantry fighting vehicle was produced at the Rheinmetall plant in Hungary.

This is stated in the statement of the Rheinmetall company. Currently, the first Lynx infantry fighting vehicle is being put into operation. In mid-2024, after comprehensive inspections, the vehicle will be handed over to the Hungarian Armed Forces.

"Rheinmetall is steadily expanding its production capacity in Europe in order to meet growing demand from our customers and to support European security," stated Rheinmetall executive board chairman Armin Papperger. Papperger added that the new plant in Hungary, which opened in August 2023, is the most advanced production and testing facility for armoured vehicles anywhere in the world.

The Rheinmetall plant in the Hungarian city of Zalaegerszeg. Photo credits: Rheinmetall.

"We're proud of our team in Zalaegerszeg and of our colleagues in Germany, who reached this milestone in record time," declared Paul Walf, managing director of Rheinmetall Hungary.

In August, Militarnyi reported on the opening of a Rheinmetall plant for the production of Lynx infantry fighting vehicles in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary. The plant is jointly owned, with Rheinmetall Hungary Zrt. Holding 51% of the shares and Hungary holding the rest.

Rheinmetall signed a contract with the Hungarian Ministry of Defense for the supply of 218 infantry fighting vehicles in September 2020.

Lynx IFV at the Rheinmetall plant in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary, August 2023. Photo credits: Rheinmetall.

The contract was divided into two stages: the first stage included the production of 46 IFVs at Rheinmetall's facilities in Germany, and the second stage involved the construction of a plant and the launch of production in Hungary. In the fall of 2022, some of Rheinmetall's Hungarian employees began working on new Lynx infantry fighting vehicles in Germany.

In January 2023, it was reported that full production of Lynx in Hungary was to begin in July 2023.