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German automotive and arms manufacturer Rheinmetall will supply up to 3,058 Caracal airmobile platforms for the governments of Germany and the Netherlands.
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The €1.9 billion multi-year framework contract is expected to supply up to 2,054 high-performance airmobile 4x4 all-wheel-drive vehicles for Germany and 1,004 for the Dutch armed forces.
A firm order has been placed for 1,508 vehicles worth around €870 million, with the first vehicles to be delivered in the first quarter of 2024 and shipment in series starting in 2025.
The Caracal is based on the new military Mercedes G-model 464 series and developed under partnership between Rheinmetall, Mercedes-Benz AG, and Armoured Car Systems GmbH for airmobile formations and special operations.
Dr Björn Bernhard, Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH managing director, said procurement of the “Deployment System Airmobile Platform” is unfolding against the backdrop of the tense security situation and urgently required new capabilities for national and alliance defence.
“Together with our partners Mercedes-Benz AG and Armoured Car Systems GmbH, we’re ready to roll and can advance quickly to full-scale, large-volume series production,” he said.
“Final assembly of all German and Dutch vehicles will take place at our plant in Ede in the Netherlands and at VDL Special Vehicles B.V. in Eindhoven, our designated partner company.
“Having two assembly locations will let us quickly scale up production while simultaneously contributing to sustained value added in the Netherlands, our partner country.”
To finance the procurement project, Germany is drawing on the special fund set up last year for re-equipping the Bundeswehr.
