GRF Will Form Basis for LuLa Bid

Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and Defenture have further advanced their cooperation in the German-Dutch procurement programme for a new airborne platform (LuLa) by signing an MoU.

LuLa is intended to replace the existing vehicles in service with airborne forces and is one of the projects being funded by the additional €100 billion Germany has recently made available for defence.

Defenture’s Groundforce (GRF) system has already been introduced in and is fully verified by the Dutch Army, and forms the basis of the combined companies’ bid for the planned LuLa vehicle family. The 5t GRF is a truly MOTS platform, with a 2t payload and certified air-transportable  by CH-47F Chinook. It provides full configuration freedom and offers integrated and modular ballistic protection. Its agility is underscored by a 9m turning radius and a battlefield-proven four-wheel steering system.

KMW is responsible for the various equipment kits, which can be changed without the use of special tools. “Our German-Dutch cooperation sets a strong signal that European cooperation can work – also in the participation of national industries, like in this German-Dutch procurement project,” observes Ralf Ketzel, CEO of KMW.

Henk van der Scheer, CEO of Defenture, added “We are glad to be working with KMW, which has exceptional experience, competencies and expertise as a systems house.”