Over 1,400 Built
With over 1,400 vehicles built, Rheinmetall’s 6×6 FUCHS/FOX tactical armoured transport is a very widely-used vehicle, having accumulated significant operational experience. Several armed forces deploy multiple variants, to fulfil armoured personnel carrier, command post, field ambulance or mobile CBRN reconnaissance roles.
The latter has been successfully deployed in multiple crisis regions, countering numerous threats. Nearly 300 of this variant have been built so far, proving their reliability in service with Germany, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Norway, the UAE, UK and US. At the heart of the CBRN reconnaissance FUCHS lies a fully-integrated suite of sensors and equipment for detecting and identifying nuclear, biological and chemical warfare agents.
The Bundeswehr operated several variants of FUCHS since 1979 – it plays an important role in international peacekeeping missions in Afghanistan and Mali, for example. Compared to its predecessors, the FUCHS 1A8 – the Bundeswehr’s most advanced version – delivers considerably improved protection against ballistic threats, landmines and IEDs. Among the principal modifications are structural changes to the hull, new axles, reinforced wheel housings, doors and window frames as well as additional stowage compartments and other external reinforcements. Rheinmetall will be upgrading a total of 272 vehicles to the current 1A8 standard for the Bundeswehr by the end of 2020.
Rheinmetall has developed an even more advanced version of the vehicle, featuring a new power pack, transfer case, and brake system, an improved steering system as well as improved digital camera and visualisation systems. This makes FUCHS even more manoeuvrable off-road and considerably easier to handle. With a fleet availability ratio of over 90%, it delivers unmatched operational readiness, making it one of the most reliable and popular vehicles in the German Army’s inventory.
FUCHS/FOX 2, derived from the original, is an advanced export version, featuring increased roof height for a roomier interior, a more powerful engine, a modernised drivetrain and suspension system as well as a digital electric backbone. FUCHS 2 is in service with the armed forces of the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and one other customer in the MENA region.
Having amassed a considerable amount of operational experience, and having become popular with operators in several nations, the FUCHS family can be sustained and will likely remain operational well beyond 2035, in the manufacturer’s view.
Its great popularity with a wide range of international users, and the related continuous product care by Rheinmetall, assures that the FUCHS/FOX can be sustained and kept operational well beyond the year 2035.
