Germany and Netherlands acquire 222 Schakal wheeled IFVs
The European defense organization OCCAR (Joint Organization for Armament Cooperation) has commissioned Artec GmbH to deliver 222 Schakal infantry fighting vehicles, a variant of the Boxer 8×8 platform, to the armed forces of Germany and the Netherlands. The Schakal combines the Boxer wheeled armored vehicle chassis with the turret of the tracked Puma infantry fighting vehicle. The main contractor is Artec GmbH, a joint venture between Rheinmetall and KNDS Germany. Germany will receive 150 Schakal vehicles, and the Netherlands will receive 72.
Germany and the Netherlands, under OCCAR’s supervision, formalized a joint order for 222 Schakal vehicles for €3.41 billion. Signed in Bonn on October 17, 2025, and announced by Rheinmetall three days later, the contract results from a binational effort initiated over five years ago to develop medium forces, which combine mobility and firepower for versatile operations. OCCAR oversees project management and notification to Artec GmbH.
Of the €3.41 billion contract, nearly €3 billion will go to Rheinmetall. The agreement includes a complete logistics package: training, tools, spare parts, and an option for up to 248 additional units. This deal strengthens the German-Dutch industrial partnership, proven through the Boxer program. According to OCCAR, the goal is to ensure “technical and logistical consistency between allied forces,” with production on German lines in Kassel and Dutch lines in Ede. OCCAR’s governance model, successful in the A400M and FREMM programs, ensures standardized certification and support.
Technically, the Schakal integrates the Puma RCT30 remote-controlled turret, equipped with the 30 mm MK30-2/ABM cannon, into the Boxer 8×8 chassis. This configuration provides greater firepower than previous Boxer variants while retaining strategic mobility. Advanced optronic targeting systems, digital fire control, and 360° panoramic sensors enable day and night engagements, including in urban environments. OCCAR describes the Schakal as “a high-performance APC offering increased lethality, survivability, and tactical flexibility.” Rheinmetall offers modular kits, including protection against anti-tank weapons, acoustic shot detection systems, and anti-drone capabilities.
The Schakal is part of the broader Boxer portfolio, expanded by OCCAR in mid-October with a €4.5 billion investment for 270 additional vehicles (ambulances, training vehicles, command posts). Total commitments exceed €10 billion, confirming the Boxer as a pivotal platform for European land mobility. This continuity optimizes Rheinmetall and KNDS Germany’s assembly lines, absorbing non-recurring costs. The Schakal strengthens the European Defense Industrial and Technological Base (BITDE) by aligning Berlin and The Hague’s doctrines on a common standard.
Deliveries are scheduled between 2027 and 2031. The Schakal will form the backbone of Germany’s “medium forces,” motorized infantry units capable of operating over strategic distances with significant firepower, bridging the gap between heavy (Leopard 2, Puma) and light brigades. For the Netherlands, the Schakal ensures compatibility with German command structures, particularly within the 1st German-Dutch Corps in Münster, facilitating joint NATO deployments and enhancing responsiveness to hybrid threats.
The Schakal program reflects the EU’s growing emphasis on pooled land acquisitions. By entrusting project management to OCCAR, Berlin and The Hague validate a streamlined cooperation model focused on system standardization and cost reduction. The Boxer/Puma combination makes the Schakal a force multiplier, combining mobility, protection, connectivity, and NATO interoperability. For Rheinmetall, this represents nearly €3 billion in revenue and visibility into the next decade.
