Adaptability Provides Potential Flexibility and Cost-Savings
Rheinmetall Australia has successfully completed demonstration tests of the Soucy Composite Rubber Track (CRT) as fitted to the LYNX KF41 IFV, the company announced on 17 November.
Confirming that the vehicle is capable of using both steel and composite rubber tracks, Managing Director Gary Stewart stated “The vehicle was reconfigured from its base steel track system to the CRT, successfully demonstrating vehicle operation on the CRT system and then returned to the base steel track configuration with great success […] The Rheinmetall LYNX IFV has the modularity and flexibility to be operated with both types of track systems, allowing armies to configure the vehicle to meet the operational need […] This ensures the LYNX IFV can support the benefits of either system […] In tomorrow’s battlefield, flexibility is key to match vehicle capability to the required threat environment. LYNX, with its design for modularity, is able to be configured to meet that emergent environment.”
The weight saving implied in fitting the CRT means the vehicle can be configured for a lighter all-up weight, and can thus be more easily transported by air, increasing its ability to meet the dynamics of the existing and likely future threat environments. It also has the potential to reduce overall running costs through the vehicle’s expected service life.
“Both track systems have their advantages, and while it is for the end user to determine whether a steel or composite rubber track is most appropriate, the flexibility of the LYNX design to be configured with either provides the greatest flexibility to defence,” Stewart concluded.