Yesterday, Budget Committee of the German Parliament approved several procurement projects in its last session before summer break. Among them is the succession of the “Luftlande-Wölfe” (air assault vehicle “Wolf”), which are to be replaced by Caracal. Germany and the Netherlands want to procure more than 1,500 vehicles. Caracal airborne vehicle family is the result of Rheinmetall’s cooperation with Mercedes-Benz and ACS Armoured Car Systems and was first presented to the public at Eurosatory 2022.
Caracal is based on the new G-Class chassis for rescue and special operations. Due to its compact design, the vehicle is also suitable for air transport in the cargo hold of a CH-47F Chinook, the future Heavy Transport Helicopter (STH) of the German Armed Forces (we reported). Caracal can also be carried as an external load by helicopters.
Thanks to its modular design and two available wheelbases, the vehicle can be used in various roles in airborne operations – from a simple troop carrier to a medical vehicle to a logistics vehicle – all these roles and more can be realised on this platform. Caracal a lightweight superstructure and optionally mountable ballistic protection elements against ballistic and mine threats. The six-cylinder Euro III diesel engine delivers 249 hp, enabling the 4,900 kg vehicle to reach a top speed of 130 km/h.
As Rheinmetall announced that time, Caracal will be available for large-scale production from 2023. The company offers full lifecycle support of over 20 years.
Dorothee Frank, Head of editorial team