At a ceremony on July 24, 2024, Rheinmetall handed over to the Hungarian armed forces the first KF41 Lynx infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) produced at the Zalaegerszeg site in Hungary.
Defense Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky represented the Hungarian government at the event. Dr. Björn Bernhard, Head of Rheinmetall Vehicle Systems Europe, and Paul Walf, CEO of Rheinmetall Hungary, welcomed the guests on behalf of Rheinmetall.
The first Lynx from Hungarian production was completed in December 2023. Following extensive functional inspections, performance, and quality acceptances, it has now been officially handed over to the Hungarian armed forces.
Rheinmetall’s facility in Zalaegerszeg, which opened in August 2023, is the world’s most modern competence centre for the production of tracked armoured vehicles, particularly the innovative Lynx.
Defence Minister Szalay-Bobrovniczky emphasized the strategic importance of the partnership with Rheinmetall: “I often say that peace requires strength, which means a lot of kinds of strength, and in this regard, we have gained real and serious strength with Rheinmetall and in this alliance, which significantly enriches Hungary. This is a kind of strategic partnership that is more than strategy or partnership – this is a real alliance, and within this framework, we hope to win the future for Hungarians. We’re building something that will remain for the next generations and we’re strengthening Hungary.”
Dr. Björn Bernhard highlighted Rheinmetall’s commitment: “We are grateful to be able to support the Hungarian armed forces as an industrial partner in the Lynx lighthouse project. We have now reached an important milestone within the project. With the production of the Lynx, we are seriously proving our commitment in creating local added value in Hungary and transferring technology to the country. This model is also transferable to other countries which might also be interested in similar partnerships.”
In August 2020, the Hungarian Ministry of Defence commissioned the Rheinmetall Group to supply combat vehicles and associated services worth over €2bn as part of its “Zrínyi 2026” initiative. A total of 209 Lynx KF41s are to be supplied to the Hungarian armed forces in seven variants: IFV, command post vehicle, armoured reconnaissance vehicle, fire control vehicle, mortar carrier, medical vehicle, and driving school vehicle. A Lynx air defence tank with a Skyranger 30 turret is also in progress as part of another development contract, placed in December 2023.
In the first production phase, Hungary will receive 46 German-made Lynx infantry fighting vehicles by the end of 2025. The first vehicle from this series was handed over in October 2022. Production of the remaining vehicles began at the end of 2023 as part of the Rheinmetall Hungary Zrt. joint venture between Rheinmetall (51%) and the Hungarian government (49%) in Zalaegerszeg.
The state-of-the-art development and manufacturing site in Zalaegerszeg is part of the industrial complex ZALAZone and spans approximately 33 hectares. The site includes a test center equipped with a firing tunnel. Beyond strengthening the local economy, the factory creates around 300 highly qualified jobs and promotes innovation. Rheinmetall plans further investments to increase production capacity, strengthening the Hungarian economy and defense industry.
The Lynx KF41’s modular design offers maximum adaptability, meeting the Hungarian customer’s specific national requirements. This state-of-the-art infantry fighting vehicle features scalable armament, various layers of protection, upgradeable systems, and the ability to take on new roles after being fully converted.
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