Rheinmetall receives main battle tank order from Hungary
Rheinmetall experiences a successful week. Hungary commissions the armaments group to develop the Panther KF51 main battle tank through to series production. This follows a major order from Austria.
The Rheinmetall armaments group has received an order from Hungary to develop the Panther KF51 main battle tank to series production readiness. A corresponding contract was signed in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary, Rheinmetall announced. The development contract is worth around 288 million euros.
The initial plan is to build and qualify a demonstrator in preparation for series production. Rheinmetall is cooperating on the project with the Hungarian state-owned holding company N7, which also holds a 49 percent stake in the Rheinmetall Hungary joint venture.
According to Rheinmetall AG CEO Armin Pappberger, the Panther KF51 is "the world's most advanced main battle tank". Rheinmetall presented the vehicle for the first time last year. According to the press release, it is characterized by a high degree of digitalization and networking. The chassis is based on Rheinmetall's Büffel armored recovery vehicle. In conjunction with a low overall weight, this contributes to the mobility of the Panther KF51 on the one hand, while on the other, synergy effects with the Leopard 2 family arise in terms of logistics, maintenance and training.
Three soldiers, commander, gunner and driver, are planned as the crew of the Panther KF51, and there is also a fourth seat in the front. According to the announcement, both a subsystem operator and the company commander could be seated there.
Just at the beginning of the week, Rheinmetall also secured a major order from Austria. This involved the modernization of the existing Skyguard air defence systems. The order volume amounted to 532 million euros, the company announced on Tuesday. Rheinmetall's Skyguard system is a short-range air defense system. Among other things, the modernization ordered by the Austrians is intended to upgrade 28 existing 35-millimetre twin guns. The corresponding ammunition is also part of the order.
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The order for developing the Panther KF51 main battle tank to series production is valued at around 288 million euros and is awarded to Rheinmetall by Hungary, the country where the contract was signed. Rheinmetall's cooperation on this project includes teaming up with the Hungarian state-owned holding company N7, which holds a significant stake in Rheinmetall Hungary.
Source: www.ntv.de
