Kecskemét Air Festival: Rheinmetall Unveils Cutting-Edge Technology for Modern Militaries

This year, from 28 to 29 August, the Hungarian military forces are hosting the International Air Exhibition at Kecskemét air force base for the first time since 2013. It focuses on the ongoing modernization of the Hungarian defense forces. As one of Hungary’s most significant partners, Rheinmetall will be present at the event to share insights about its current initiatives and offerings. These consist of:

• The Lynx KF41 family of combat vehicles: Hungary is the inaugural NATO and EU member state to select Rheinmetall’s newly designed infantry fighting vehicle. A total of 218 Lynx units have been commissioned, most of which will be manufactured in Hungary. The Lynx infantry fighting vehicle merges exceptional mobility and firepower, modularity, survivability, connectivity, and future readiness, making it a distinctive asset.
• The StrikeShield active defense system. StrikeShield represents the third and latest generation of Rheinmetall’s Active Defense System (ADS) technology, a special variant of a hard-kill APS system. The ADS is a distributed framework where the sensors and countermeasures are integrated into the design and structure of the entire vehicle. Among other benefits, the minimal emissions in the electromagnetic spectrum, along with the quickest, most secure, and most reliable response times in ambush and multiple strike scenarios, set the StrikeShield ahead of its rivals. The Hungarian military has opted for StrikeShield for its fleet of Lynx IFVs.
• The HX 8×8 heavy load transporter: Manufactured by Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV), the HX 8×8 semi-trailer truck boasts an eight-cylinder, 680 HP diesel engine. This grants the versatile, all-wheel-drive vehicle a maximum speed of 89 km/h and allows it to tackle gradients of 60 percent. The allowable gross train weight reaches approximately 130 tonnes. A military-off-the-shelf series of solutions, RMMV’s HX vehicle family is crafted for optimal mobility even in the harshest environments. Over 15,000 of these vehicles are operational globally.
• Air defense: High-mobility ground-based air defense systems are gaining new significance as NATO armed forces once again emphasize national and collective defense. Rheinmetall’s Skyranger systems, equipped with 35mm or 30mm automatic cannons as well as various effectors, can be mounted on wheeled or tracked armored vehicles like the Boxer or Lynx.
• The Mission Master family: Robotics is actively transforming the landscape of modern combat. Intended to function as a weapons platform, Rheinmetall’s unmanned Mission Master SP (Silent Partner) vehicle is currently undergoing evaluation by various military forces worldwide. As recently as June 2021, Rheinmetall introduced a new addition to its Mission Master family – the Mission Master XT. Specially designed to operate in extreme conditions and to transport heavy loads, the new AUGV will be showcased for the first time at a trade show in Europe.

In the digital transformation of the contemporary military, Rheinmetall establishes remarkably high standards, leveraging its expertise as a producer of soldier systems, sensors, effectors, alongside its networking and C4I system capabilities. Here, the Düsseldorf-based high-tech innovator for security and mobility continues to advance its leadership in soldier systems with solutions like the Gladius 2.0.

In the training and simulation arena, too, Rheinmetall stands as a world leader, contributing significantly to enhancing the effectiveness and preparedness of modern military forces and law enforcement organizations. Information on this, along with weapons and ammunition systems designed for scalable, threat-appropriate firepower, and innovative, networked sensors for applications on land, sea, and air, round out the extensive capabilities on display. We eagerly anticipate your presence at the Kecskemét International Air Show!