The Caracal vehicles offer flexibility to airmobile units with their compact, helicopter-transportable design and weapon options ranging from the MG5 machine gun to anti-tank weapons.
Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH and Rheinmetall Defence Nederland B.V. delivered the first Caracal vehicles at an official ceremony held on 29 October 2026 at the production facility in Ede, the Netherlands. The vehicles were handed over to the German Armed Forces’ (Bundeswehr) Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) and the Dutch Ministry of Defence. The Dutch Ministry of Defence had already received its first vehicle on 29 September 2026 for driver training.
Rheinmetall Caracal Delivery Schedule and Technical Specifications
The delivery of the first series-production Caracal vehicles, officially designated “Einsatzsystem Luftlandeplattform” (Airborne Platform Mission System), was described as a significant milestone in the project. This development also paves the way for subsequent deliveries of vehicles that can be used for various missions with 28 different equipment kits. The contract covers not only vehicle deliveries but also full life-cycle support for 20 years, aiming to ensure the vehicles remain in service sustainably over the long term. More than 1,500 vehicles are scheduled to be delivered to the German and Dutch armed forces by 2030. Developed as a highly mobile, modular and multipurpose vehicle, the Caracal is built on the military production chassis of the latest-generation Mercedes-Benz G-Class (model series 464), which is also used for the Wolf 2. Final assembly of the vehicle will take place at Rheinmetall Defence Nederland’s production facility in Ede, the Netherlands. Developed to enhance the mobility of airborne units in the German and Dutch armed forces, the Caracal tactical vehicle can carry four soldiers, their personal equipment and mission-specific gear in its basic configuration. Its compact design allows it to be transported inside the cargo compartment of heavy-lift helicopters or as an underslung load beneath a helicopter.
20 Years of Life-Cycle Support for the Rheinmetall Caracal Project
The Caracal has been developed to meet the various operational requirements of light and special forces while providing modular protection against mines and ballistic threats that can be increased according to operational needs. Different weapon systems, including the MG5 machine gun, heavy machine guns, automatic grenade launchers and anti-tank weapons, can be integrated into the vehicle’s ring-mounted weapon system. In addition, a machine gun mounted on the weapon attachment at the front passenger position can be used as a secondary weapon system.
Rheinmetall Landsysteme Managing Director Björn Bernhard emphasised that the Caracal is one of the most versatile vehicles in the company’s product portfolio. He stated that Rheinmetall employees in Germany and the Netherlands had worked closely with other industry partners to bring the project to fruition. Bernhard expressed satisfaction at reaching a significant milestone in the delivery process together with German and Dutch customers and said he looked forward to the continuation of their long-term, trust-based cooperation.
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Source: C4Defence – Rheinmetall
