It seems that financing has finally been found for the supply of German KF41 Lynx IFVs from Rheinmetall to Ukraine. The first five ordered units are scheduled for delivery in early 2026, in the near future.
According to Rheinmetall's press office, the contract, signed in December 2025 and worth tens of millions of euros, was funded by Germany. The delivery is described as the first batch, followed by orders for additional vehicles with localization at Ukrainian facilities.
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At the beginning of 2025, Ukraine received one Lynx vehicle for testing. After that, there was no significant news on the project's status for a long time, other than that testing continued. In November, it was disclosed that no funding had been allocated for the purchase.
However, despite the lack of funding, Rheinmetall began producing five additional IFVs, expected to be delivered to the Ukrainian military in 2026. These are likely the vehicles in question, and the German government covering the cost of their delivery.
So, it is likely that Ukraine will receive six KF41s as planned (including the first one delivered for testing). However, the statement about the "next step" as the purchase of subsequent batches suggests that it may have been possible to lay the groundwork for further orders.
Financing the contract in installments allows Germany, which is also rearming on a massive scale, to spread out its costs. However, the question remains as to how much this will affect mass production and potential localization, which only makes sense if several hundred vehicles are purchased.
However, an agreement may have been signed under which Ukraine is set to receive hundreds of Lynx vehicles, with funding provided for each batch. This would be the preferred option and would allow for potential localization. Italy is currently operating in a similar manner and has already begun to receive such equipment.
It remains unclear whether Germany is funding just the five IFVs in production or the entire project, but recent positive news hints that the financing question may now be settled.
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