Rheinmetall has delivered the first series-production Caracal tactical vehicles to the German and Dutch armed forces, marking the start of deliveries under a joint order for more than 1,500 vehicles. The handover ceremony took place on October 29 at the company’s production facility in the Netherlands, where the vehicles were presented to the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support and the Dutch Ministry of Defence. The Netherlands had previously received an initial vehicle on September 29 for driver training, while the latest handover marks the beginning of deliveries of production-standard units. Based on the Mercedes-Benz G-Class 464 military chassis, the Caracal is designed to provide airborne and specialized forces with a highly mobile platform adaptable to different missions. The contract covers more than 1,500 vehicles for Germany and the Netherlands by 2030, along with 20 years of life-cycle support. Capable of carrying up to four soldiers with their personal and mission equipment, the vehicle can be transported inside military aircraft or suspended beneath heavy-lift helicopters. Its modular design supports a range of operational requirements, with Rheinmetall offering 28 configurations. Weapon options include MG5 machine guns, heavy machine guns, automatic grenade launchers and anti-tank weapons, while additional protection against mines and ballistic threats can be installed according to mission needs.
