NATO allies double down on Schakal vehicles equipped with anti-tank missile systems

Germany and the Netherlands have expanded their joint armored vehicle program by ordering 69 additional Schakal infantry fighting vehicles. The Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) has commissioned Artec GmbH, a joint venture between Rheinmetall and KNDS Deutschland. It will supply 35 vehicles for the German Bundeswehr and 34 for the Dutch armed forces. The two option call-offs have a combined value in the medium three-digit million-euro range, according to Rheinmetall. Deliveries are scheduled between May 2032 and November 2033. The latest order follows the first option call-off under the program, which received approval from Germany’s Bundestag Budget Committee on June 24, 2026. With the new vehicles included, the number of Schakals ordered for delivery now stands at 291. Boxer chassis meets Puma firepower The Schakal combines two established German armored vehicle platforms: the wheeled Boxer 8×8 chassis and the turret of the tracked Puma infantry fighting vehicle. The configuration brings the mobility and modular design of the Boxer together with the Puma’s weapons system, creating a vehicle intended to support mechanized infantry operations. Its primary weapon is the Rheinmetall MK 30-2/ABM 30 mm automatic cannon, supplemented by a MELLS anti-tank guided missile system. The combination gives the vehicle options for engaging a range of battlefield threats, from lighter armored vehicles to more heavily protected targets. It is also designed to carry a fully equipped infantry squad, allowing troops to travel with the vehicle and dismount when required. The Boxer platform is built around a modular architecture, allowing different mission configurations to share a common vehicle base. Its eight-wheel drive configuration is intended to provide the mobility medium forces need for long-distance operations, while offering a different approach to deployment and transport than heavier tracked vehicles. Expanding German-Dutch armored vehicle cooperation The latest order builds on the original contract awarded to Artec in October 2025, which covered 222 Schakal vehicles and included options for up to 200 additional units. The first option exercise and the latest call-off have steadily expanded the program beyond its initial order. The project is also part of a broader effort to strengthen cooperation between European defense industries and standardize equipment across allied forces. Alongside Rheinmetall and KNDS Deutschland, the program involves industrial partners including MTU and Hensoldt, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises. For Germany and the Netherlands, operating the same vehicle could support closer coordination in training, maintenance, logistics, and joint deployments. Shared platforms can also help reduce the complexity of supporting different vehicle types across allied units. Rheinmetall says German industry has guaranteed accelerated deliveries for vehicles covered by the options. The company has also identified a potential role for the Schakal in the proposed Arminius Boxer program, should it receive a formal commission. The additional order reinforces the two countries’ commitment to the platform, although the bulk of the newly ordered vehicles will not arrive until the next decade. With deliveries extending into 2033, the program represents a long-term investment in wheeled infantry fighting vehicles and closer German-Dutch military cooperation.Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Kaif Shaikh is a journalist and writer passionate about turning complex information into clear, impactful stories. His writing covers technology, sustainability, geopolitics, and occasionally fiction. A graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, his work has appeared in the Times of India and beyond. After a near-fatal experience, Kaif began seeing both stories and silences differently. Outside work, he juggles far too many projects and passions, but always makes time to read, reflect, and hold onto the thread of wonder.