Rheinmetall Caracal
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| Rheinmetall Caracal | |
|---|---|
 A Caracal prototype in Dutch service | |
| Type | Military light utility vehicle |
| Place of origin | Germany |
| Service history | |
| In service | Expected 2025 |
| Used by | See operators |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Rheinmetall Mercedes-Benz ACS Armoured Car Systems VDL Groep |
| Developed from | ACS ENOK AB |
| Variants | see variants |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 3,700 kg (8,200 lb)[1] |
| Length | 4,706 mm (185.3 in) |
| Width | 1,890 mm (74 in) |
| Height | 1,818 mm (71.6 in) |
| Armor | see protection |
Main armament | 1 × 40 mm HK GMG or .50 caliber M2 Browning heavy machine gun or Spike LR2 anti-tank guided missile |
| Engine | Mercedes-Benz OM 642 LS DE 30 LA, V6, 3.0 litres (2,987 cc), Euro 3, diesel engine 249 PS (183 kW), 600 N⋅m (440 lbf⋅ft) |
| Power/weight | 50.8 PS/t (37.4 kW/t) at full weight |
| Payload capacity | 1,200 kg (2,600 lb) |
| Maximum speed | 130 km/h (81 mph) |
| References | [2] |
The Caracal, is a German military light utility vehicle developed by Rheinmetall in cooperation with Mercedes-Benz and ACS Armoured Car Systems.[2]
The vehicle was selected by the German Army and Royal Netherlands Army in 2023 as part a joint airborne vehicle replacement program. The vehicle has been undergoing trials since 2024 and is due to enter service in 2025 within the Rapid Forces Division and 11th Airmobile Brigade.[3]
Armament
The Caracal is based on the military 464 series of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class; this is a so-called militarised version based on the original G 461 with rigid axles and is manufactured in Graz (Austria). The W 464 platform has been in production since August 2023. The modular structure of the vehicle is supplied by ACS Armoured Car Systems. Rheinmetall serves as general contractor and deliver the vehicles in the required variants after final assembly. Rheinmetall will also develop the armament kits, qualify the vehicles and provide logistical support. Final assembly is done in the Netherlands, at Rheinmetall Nederland in Ede VDL Groep in Eindhoven.
Weapon mounts
The Caracal in its base variant is equipped with two weapon mounts.
- A ring mount that is operated by a gunner. It is the Rheinmetall Softmount Multimount, and it has different adapters for the different weapons. These mounts are designed to clip on the ringmount, and to be equipped with heavy machine guns, automatic grenade launchers and anti-tank guided missile launchers (M2 Browning, MG6, HK GMG, Spike LR2).
- A commander mount, a swingmount, MG4, MG5 in German service, or an FN Minimi or FN MAG in Dutch service.[4]
Other armament
The Caracal has also been displayed with a quadruple bank of launchers for HERO-120 loitering munitions.[5]
Protection
For protection purposes, the vehicle can be equipped with Rheinmetall's smoke grenade dischargers, the so-called Rapid Obscuring System (ROSY).
In terms of armour, Rheinmetall provides optional modular ballistic and mine protection packages.
- Ballistic protection: armour package conforming to STANAG 4569 protection level 1, including the Fragment Simulating Projectiles (FSP) test.[6]
- Mine protection: armour package conforming to STANAG 4569 protection level 1 (DM31), including the Fragment Simulating Projectiles (FSP) test.
Air transportability
Up to two vehicles can be transported as internal load (in the short wheelbase version) or one underslung by the CH-47F Chinook and CH-53K King Stallion helicopters. Moreover, the Caracal is air-portable with Boeing C-17 Globemaster, Lockheed Martin C-130, Embraer KC-390 and Airbus A400M transport aircraft.[7][2]
Variants
Rheinmetall offers 4 main variants as of 2026:[8]
- Caracal 4×4 as a passenger transport vehicle with different roles
- Caracal 4×4 as an ambulance vehicle
- Caracal 6×6 as a group transport vehicle
- Caracal 6×6 as a material transport vehicle
