The European defence procurement organisation OCCAR has ordered 69 additional Schakal wheeled infantry fighting vehicles for the German and Dutch armed forces.
The order covers 35 vehicles for the Bundeswehr and 34 for the Royal Netherlands Army.
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Artec, the joint venture between Rheinmetall and KNDS Deutschland, will act as prime contractor for the Boxer-based vehicles.
Rheinmetall said the two option call-offs have a combined value in the medium three-digit million-euro range.
Deliveries are currently scheduled to take place between May 2032 and November 2033.
The order follows approval by the Bundestag’s Budget Committee on 24 June 2026 for Germany’s share of the contractually agreed options.
The original contract, awarded in October 2025, covered 222 vehicles and included options for up to 200 more.
Once the latest options are included, the total number of Schakal vehicles ordered for the programme will rise to 291.
Rheinmetall vehicle systems division head Björn Bernhard said: “The activation of additional options for the Schakal confirms our customers’ confidence in this state-of-the-art system. It also gives us greater insurance for us as an industry and for our suppliers concerning the planning. Together with our partners, we are contributing significantly to the modernisation of European land forces and are strengthening industrial capacity in Europe.”
The Schakal combines the Boxer’s wheeled chassis with the turret of the tracked Puma infantry fighting vehicle.
According to Rheinmetall, this configuration supports modularity and mobility while integrating the MK 30-2/ABM machine gun and the MELLS anti-tank guided missile, enabling the vehicle to engage a range of targets in varied operational environments.
The system is also equipped with digital networking features and offers protection for a fully equipped infantry section.
Production involves industrial sites operated by Rheinmetall, KNDS Deutschland, MTU and Hensoldt, alongside smaller German defence suppliers, according to Rheinmetall.
