German technology company Rheinmetall announced on Friday it has developed a new Lynx 120 motorized fire support vehicle, popularly known as the “light tank”.
Rheinmetall has just revealed the latest addition to the company’s Lynx line of next-generation combat vehicles. The Düsseldorf-based technology group has now developed a motorized fire support variant of the Lynx KF41 IFV. Called the Lynx 120, this unique platform combines the tried and tested turret concept and the proven 120mm smoothbore gun with the Lynx KF 41 chassis. Lynx’s new mechanized fire support variant offers grants the user superior anti-tank protection and fire support.
With a well-balanced combination of damage, protection, mobility and survivability, the Lynx 120 is the perfect complementary battlefield asset for users of the Lynx platform. With off-the-shelf components, meticulous engineering reduces the vehicle’s weight, while customizable protective packages round out the package. The vehicle architecture has been simplified and offers ‘plug-and-play’ openness for future upgrades, while complying and adapting to NATO standards.
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Because the armed forces must confront future challenges as high-tech combat systems at a time when conventional solutions and concepts have reached their performance limits, the Lynx 120 Designed to provide maximum damage and firepower on the racetrack combined with the latest defense technology to keep opponents at bay.
Utilizing the Lynx KF 41 modular chassis and large expandable turret concept, the Lynx 120 is a high-performance solution, packed with vast growth potential and guaranteed out-of-the-box capabilities. Just a few weeks ago, Rheinmetall Defense Australia unveiled a combat support vehicle (CSV) version of the Lynx: now also a fire support version.
The basic idea behind the Lynx 120 design concept is to provide a combat system that delivers maximum operational performance combined with a logistical advantage in a reasonable timeframe at a realistic cost.
The vehicle’s main armament is a 120mm Rheinmetall smoothbore cannon, derived from the Leopard 2’s main armament. It can fire the state-of-the-art DM11 programmable high explosive (HE) ammunition. Its secondary armament includes a coaxial machine gun. Furthermore, the commander’s stand-alone weapon station will have an extra 0.5 cal. machine gun.
The 360° camera system with automatic target detection and tracking reduces the crew’s workload in all combat situations.
Special protection modules enable mission-specific response to ballistic missile threats, improvised explosive devices, explosive intrusive devices and artillery fire, and at the same time can be quickly mounted with limited tools. Furthermore, the Lynx 120 can easily be equipped with the proven Rheinmetall Active Defense System, or ADS, to defeat rocket-propelled grenades and anti-tank missiles. Additional armor packages and active protection systems can be provided upon request.
