Rheinmetall has begun series deliveries of its Caracal tactical vehicles to Germany and the Netherlands, handing over the first production-standard units on October 29 at its facility in the Netherlands. The delivery initiates a joint procurement programme covering more than 1,500 vehicles by 2030, supported by a 20-year life-cycle service arrangement. The vehicles were presented to representatives of the German Bundeswehr procurement agency and the Dutch Ministry of Defence. The Netherlands had received an initial Caracal on September 29 for driver training ahead of the production deliveries. Built on the Mercedes-Benz G-Class 464 military chassis, the Caracal is intended for airborne and specialized forces requiring a highly mobile, mission-configurable platform. It can accommodate up to four personnel and their equipment and can be transported inside military aircraft or carried as an underslung load by heavy-lift helicopters. Rheinmetall currently offers 28 configurations through its modular design, with weapon integration options including MG5 and heavy machine guns, automatic grenade launchers and anti-tank weapons. Optional mine and ballistic protection can also be fitted depending on operational requirements.
