The original contract for the “Schakal” armored vehicle allowed Germany and the Netherlands to expand their order by up to 200 vehicles—and two countries ordered 69 more this week.

Germany and the Netherlands have ordered an additional 69 Schakal wheeled infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) from German defense manufacturer Rheinmetall, for a total cost estimated in the hundreds of millions of euros.

The company announced the new contract award in a media release, indicating that 35 of the vehicles would be transferred to the German Bundeswehr and 34 to the Royal Netherlands Army. The two armies commissioned the contract through OCCAR, the joint European defense procurement organization, with deliveries scheduled between May 2032 and November 2033.

About the “Schakal” Armored Vehicle

• Year Introduced: 2009 (as Boxer)
• Number Built: ~1,800+
• Length: 26 ft (7.93 m)
• Width: 9.8 ft (3 m)
• Weight: ~25 tons (50,000 lb, 22,670 kg), depending on variant
• Suspension: Double wishbone with coil springs and shock absorbers
• Engine: MTU 8V199; exact model depends on variant
• Top Speed: ~64 mph (103 km/h) on road
• Armament: Rheinmetall MK-30-2/ABM 30mm autocannon; MELLS anti-tank guided missiles; other variants have other weapons
• Crew: Generally 5–6, depending on variant

The Schakal (German for jackal) is an eight-wheeled infantry fighting vehicle designed for European medium-weight ground forces. Its defining feature is the combination of two existing German armored vehicle systems: the 8×8 chassis of a Boxer armored vehicle, which provides wheeled mobility, modular construction, and armored protection; and the Puma infantry fighting vehicle turret, which supplies sophisticated weapons, sensors, and fire-control systems. The combination gives the Schakal modern firepower without having to rely on a tracked chassis, which is generally slower than a wheeled one. Wheeled vehicles offer other advantages with respect to mobility and long-distance deployments, although tracked vehicles are preferred in difficult terrain.

The Schakal’s major advantage over other armored vehicles is its heavy armament. The Rheinmetall 30mm autocannon has a wide variety of uses, particularly against infantry positions and light armored vehicles. The 30mm round would struggle against heavier targets such as bunkers and main battle tanks; for those scenarios, however, the IFV also comes equipped with MELLS guided anti-tank missiles. That combination gives the Schakal tremendous versatility, allowing it to engage a wider range of threats than a conventional armored personnel carrier could. At the same time, advanced fire-control systems and digital networking are intended to improve target engagement and battlefield coordination.

So far, the Schakal has seen limited use. The older Boxer armored vehicle on which the Schakal was based saw service in Afghanistan, and the newer Schakals have been donated to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which has used them on the battlefield with unclear success.

Why Are European NATO Countries Buying Up New IFVs?

The new procurement announcement represents a significant expansion of an earlier Schakal contract, awarded in October 2025 for 222 vehicles. That contract had the option to raise the order from Rheinmetall by another 200 vehicles, so the increase of 69—bringing the planned total to 291, at least so far—is well within the contract limits and Rheinmetall’s ability to deliver. The additional orders serve both to strengthen European armored force structures and provide greater production certainty for the manufacturers and suppliers involved.

Ultimately, the procurement reflects broader concerns within European NATO nations about improving its conventional military capabilities. The primary reason, of course, is Russia’s war against Ukraine, which has highlighted the importance of armored vehicles, mobility, battlefield survivability, and industrial production capacity. The Schakal gives both Germany and the Netherlands a modern infantry fighting vehicle capable of supporting mobile ground formations. 

The program also supports European defense-industrial cooperation. Combining established Boxer and Puma technologies, the Schakal program should provide a mobile and heavily armed support vehicle. The ultimate success of the program will depend on production and delivery schedules, but once in service, the Schakal should remain operational for about three or four decades, potentially into the 2060s or early 2070s—hopefully long enough to keep Russia deterred well into the future.

About the Author: Harrison Kass

Harrison Kass is a writer and attorney focused on national security, technology, and political culture. His work has appeared in Tablet, City Journal, The Hill, The Spectator, and The Cipher Brief. He holds a JD from the University of Oregon and a master’s in Global & Joint Program Studies from NYU. More at harrisonkass.com.

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