Lynx 120 mechanized fire support vehicle
Rheinmetall unveiled the latest addition to the company’s Lynx next-generation combat vehicle family 18 February 2022. The Düsseldorf-based technology group developed a mechanized fire support variant of the 45 ton Lynx KF41 IFV. Called the Lynx 120, this unique platform merges a tried-and-tested turret concept and the proven 120mm smoothbore cannon with the Lynx KF 41 chassis. The Lynx 120 design concept is to provide a combat system that offers maximum operational performance in combination with logistic advantages within a reasonable timeframe at a realistic cost.
The new mechanized fire support variant of the Lynx offers the user outstanding fire support and anti-tank capabilities. A tank is an armored fighting vehicle intended as a primary offensive weapon in front-line ground combat. In some regards the Lynx 120 might be regarded as a medium tank, though with a weight over 45 tons it is surely not a light tank. Some countries might use the Lynx 120 as a tank, and it might do rather well against the elderly armor holdings of some opposing countries. But the primary application should be against other armored vehicles with smaller caliber guns. This land combat counterpart to a lightly armored battlecruiser could outrun anything with similar armament, and outgun anything else.
A tank destroyer, tank hunter, or tank killer is a type of armored fighting vehicle with a direct-fire artillery gun or missile launcher designed specifically to engage and destroy enemy tanks. World War II saw the employment of tank destroyers in extra-doctrinal roles with a surprising degree of success. Though tank destroyers did not turn out as at first expected, the primary contention of their proponents, that tanks could be stopped by guns, was fully confirmed by experience. The tank terror of 1940 was overcome.
A Fire Support Vehicle (FSV) provides enhanced surveillance, target acquisition, target identification, target designation, and communications to support "first round" fire for effect capability. Their armor protection is limited. In combat, such vehicles often exploit their mobility for shoot-and-scoot type attacks in order to avoid enemy fire. One advantage over tanks is lower production and operational costs. With greater strategic and tactical mobility, they can respond rapidly to emerging threats. Main battle tanks require heavy equipment transporters to relocate over long distances. So the fire support vehicles have comparable firepower to main battle tanks and in some cases can even supplement them, but their mobility comes at a cost of limited armor protection.
Mission success depends on the military’s ability to adapt to rapidly evolving threats. The Lynx’s modular design makes this possible. On the one hand it delivers extensive parts commonality even in highly specialized variants: on the other it allows the precise tailoring of technology to specific missions and threats. The training and logistics burden is also significantly reduced, leading to greater operational readiness.
A high degree of commonality in parts and components is another prominent feature of the Lynx family of vehicles. This simplifies logistic support and has a positive impact on training. Furthermore, customized service support is available worldwide – ranging from training and logistics to in-theatre repairs and technology transfer, including local suppliers for development, production and lifecycle support, and local procurement of ancillary systems.
The Lynx platform offers maximum freedom of action. It assures outstanding mobility (MOVE), it gathers data, analyses and disseminates it (SENSE), and creates windows of opportunity for responding to battlefield threats flexibly and effectively (STRIKE).
Thanks to a well-balanced blend of lethality, protection, mobility and survivability, the Lynx 120 is the perfect additional battlefield asset for Lynx platform users. Featuring off-the-shelf components, meticulous engineering reduces the vehicle’s weight, while customizable protection packages round out the package. The vehicle architecture has been simplified and provides an open ‘plug-and-play’ capability for future upgrades, while complying with, and adapting to, NATO standards.
Because armed forces have to cope with future challenges such as high-tech combat systems at a time when conventional solutions and concepts have reached the limits of their performance, the Lynx 120 is designed to deliver maximum lethality and firepower on tracks paired with the latest defence technologies to keep adversaries at bay.
The Lynx 120 merges a tried-and-tested turret concept and the proven 120mm smoothbore cannon with the Lynx KF 41 chassis. The new mechanized fire support variant of the Lynx offers the user outstanding fire support and anti-tank capabilities. The vehicle’s main armament is a Rheinmetall 120mm smoothbore gun, derived from the main armament of the Leopard 2. It can fire state-of-the-art DM11 programmable high-explosive (HE) projectiles. Its secondary armament includes a coaxial machine gun. Moreover, the commander’s independent weapon station will feature an additional .50 cal. machine gun.
Utilizing the Lynx KF 41 modular chassis and a scalable large-calibre turret concept, the Lynx 120 is a high-performance solution, harbouring vast growth potential and an assured overmatch capability. Just a couple of weeks ago, Rheinmetall Defence Australia unveiled a combat support vehicle (CSV) variant of the Lynx: now there is the fire support version as well.
The vehicle’s main armament is a Rheinmetall 120mm smoothbore gun, derived from the main armament of the Leopard 2. It can fire state-of-the-art DM11 programmable high-explosive (HE) projectiles. Its secondary armament includes a coaxial machine gun. Moreover, the commander’s independent weapon station will feature an additional .50 cal. machine gun.
A 360° camera system with automatic target detection and tracking reduces the crew's workload in all operational scenarios.
Special protection modules enable a mission-specific response to ballistic threats, improvised explosive devices, explosively
formed penetrators and artillery fire, and can be quickly mounted with limited tools. Moreover, the Lynx 120 can be readily equipped with the proven, already fielded Rheinmetall Active Defence System, or ADS, to defeat rocket-propelled grenades and antitank missiles. Additional armor packages and active protection systems can be provided on request.
Various nations are interested in acquiring the Lynx as a next-generation replacement for their aging inventories. The platform is currently a strong contender in Australian and Slovak IFV modernization plans and is competing for the USA’s Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) programme. Hungary became the launch customer in 2021. Going beyond strictly military aspects such as increased interoperability and capability upgrades, major localization elements form an integral part of these procurement plans, aimed at boosting local industry and creating jobs.
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