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Rubber tracks for the company’s Lynx infantry fighting vehicle have been put to the test.
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Article correction: The original article stated that the Soucy CRT rubber tracks were made locally which has been removed. Updated article without mention to local production may be found below.
Rheinmetall Defence Australia (RDA) has successfully completed demonstration trials of the Soucy Composite Rubber Track (CRT) system supplied for its Lynx KF41 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV).
According to the company, the demonstration confirmed the Lynx IFV was capable of leveraging both steel and composite rubber tracks.
The vehicle was reconfigured from its base steel track to accommodate the CRT capability, before being successfully reverted to the base steel track configuration.
“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,” Rheinmetall managing director Gary Stewart said.
“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 CRT enables the Lynx to be configured with a lighter weight, supporting easier air transportation and potentially reducing overall running costs through the service life of the fleet.
“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 added.
The completion of these road trials come just over a week after RDA awarded a contract to Marand Precision Australia for the manufacture of a Roof Module for the Lynx IFV.
The partnerships are tipped to support RDA’s export deal with the US, with Team Lynx to deliver vehicles for testing activities associated with the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) program — aimed at delivering a next-generation armoured vehicle to the US Army.
This is in addition to RDA’s bid for the Commonwealth government’s LAND 400 Phase 3 program — an $18-27 billion project to replace the Australian Army’s ageing M113 Armoured Personnel Carriers.
[Related: Local firm lands Lynx IFV contract]
Charbel Kadib
News Editor – Defence and Security, Momentum Media
Prior to joining the defence and aerospace team in 2020, Charbel was news editor of The Adviser and Mortgage Business, where he covered developments in the banking and financial services sector for three years. Charbel has a keen interest in geopolitics and international relations, graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a double major in politics and journalism. Charbel has also completed internships with The Australian Department of Communications and the Arts and public relations agency Fifty Acres.
