Lynx IFV trials in Ukraine are still ongoing

Apparently, Ukraine is still evaluating the infantry fighting vehicle of the future and has still not opted for the Lynx offered by Rheinmetall.

In an article published today regarding an interview with BILD, Rheinmetall’s CEO Armin Papperger announced that the Lynx, which has already been selected for both the Hungarian and Italian armies, is still being tested in Ukraine — far away from the front line.

This means that the IFV has been undergoing trials for at least six or seven months now, considering that Papperger told F.A.Z. at the beginning of January 2025, the first vehicle was handed over to Ukraine from the factory in Unterlüß at the end of 2024.

In this regard, it is also interesting to note that no further trial vehicles have been delivered since then. As recently as October 2024, the CEO stated that a total of ten vehicles would be delivered to Ukraine for testing purposes.

However, the reasons for this are completely unknown. Although this could indicate problems with trials or production as well as a lack of funding, it is also possible that Ukrainian officials have realised that no further vehicles are needed for trials after all.

Papperger also did not want to disclose how far along the testing of the Lynx is. However, the fact that the Lynx has already been tested very intensively in Hungary and that it may be possible to draw on this experience could have a positive effect on the time still required.

In any case, a concrete schedule is not publicly known. The only thing that is clear is that Rheinmetall wants to wrap up the ongoing process as quickly as possible.

Time is running out and every week that passes makes it less likely that Rheinmetall will achieve its goal of not only setting up the production of the infantry fighting vehicle in Ukraine, but also starting it as early as 2027.

It would be the second time that Rheinmetall would need to significantly postpone the schedules for the Lynx, which were previously publicly communicated.

Before this can happen, however, the negotiations with the German government on the financing of these infantry fighting vehicles, which have been ongoing for over a year, will have to be wrapped up. However, the German government is most likely waiting for the green light from Kyiv and a corresponding demand enquiry.

It would be a billion-euro deal for Rheinmetall, whose CEO estimated the total demand of the Ukrainian army at 3,000 Lynx IFVs, although even he admitted that there is simply no budget for this.

Ultimately, if everything goes smoothly, it will probably involve hundreds of vehicles that will be manufactured and delivered in Ukraine for the next years into the upcoming decade.

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