Ukraine is still looking for ways to find money to purchase new KF41 Lynx infantry fighting vehicles by Rheinmetall. Meanwhile, neighboring Romania has shown interest in this vehicle, where it was decided to choose the KF41 Lynx as a promising vehicle to replace the fleet of outdated infantry fighting vehicles of the Romanian Armed Forces.
As Euronews reports, citing its own sources, the agreement was reached thanks to a visit to the country by Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger. It is stated that an important point in the deal will be the localization of production.
Read more: Ukraine Approves Local Production of the Lynx IFVs: How Rheinmetall Project May Boost Air Defense Capabilities
From Defense Express, we recall that the promotion of the KF41 Lynx IFV in Romania became known back in mid-July 2025. This happened very quickly after the official announcement of the tender for the purchase of 246 IFVs in five variants: basic, command, repair and evacuation, medevac as well as a 120-mm self-propelled mortar.
This project was supposed to be implemented in 8 years, stating as one of the main conditions the localization of the production of the IFV to be purchased on the territory of Romania. The components that were to be manufactured in the country included: hull, turret, weapons, armor and protection, communication and fire control systems, as well as other electronics.
In such conditions, the following infantry fighting vehicles were called the main candidates: the South Korean K21 (AS21 Redback), the Spanish ASCOD2, the Swedish CV90, the German KF41 Lynx and even the Turkish Tulpar IFV.
Rheinmetall had an important trump card here in the form of its own enterprises in Romania, as well as an agreement to build a new gunpowder plant in the country. These factors could be key in the decision-making of Romanian government officials regarding the choice of a new infantry fighting vehicle.
The involvement of local industry, such as Uzina Automecanica Moreni and Rheinmetall Automecanica, is indeed a serious argument in the defense procurement. It is possible that in the future the Romanians will also choose the KF51 Panther as the main battle tank of the Romanian Armed Forces.
Given the decision of Romania, another country that operates the KF41 Lynx infantry fighting vehicle is now joining Hungary and Italy. This will allow Rheinmetall to enter mass production of this vehicle and expand the supply chains of components for its production in Europe.
Ukraine, for its part, is still looking for funds to finance the purchase and localization of production of a promising infantry fighting vehicle, which is currently postponing the problem of replacing outdated infantry fighting vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Read more: Will Lynx IFV Production Really Begin in Ukraine This Year, and What Are the Hidden Challenges?
