Romania’s Ministry of National Defence has chosen the Lynx KF41 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) from Rheinmetall as the replacement for its aging Soviet-era MLI-84 tracked vehicles. The overall procurement program is expected to cost approximately €3.4 billion (around US$4 billion).
The IFV acquisition forms part of a broader list of defense initiatives that Romania intends to fund through the European Union’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) loan program. According to a ministry spokesperson speaking to Defense News, the proposal was submitted to Romania’s parliament on April 29 for approval.
Under the SAFE initiative, Romania has access to nearly €16.7 billion in low-interest financing, making it one of the largest beneficiaries of the program after Poland, which received an allocation of about €44 billion. Besides the IFV project, Romania plans to use SAFE funding for additional military purchases including helicopters, wheeled armored vehicles, air-defense platforms, naval vessels, drones, small arms, and ammunition.
The infantry fighting vehicle program will be implemented in multiple phases and is expected to conclude by 2030. A ministry representative stated that 232 Lynx KF41 vehicles will be financed through the SAFE mechanism and manufactured at Rheinmetall’s production site in Mediaș, Romania. The remaining vehicles required to reach the planned total of 298 units will be funded through separate financial arrangements.
Rheinmetall strengthened its position in Romania’s defense sector in 2024 by acquiring a majority share in the local military vehicle manufacturer Automecanica Mediaș.
Romanian officials emphasized that domestic industry participation will play a major role in the program, with local defense companies expected to collaborate closely with Rheinmetall. The ministry noted that procurement agreements are being negotiated with both Romanian and European defense firms, while the process of selecting industrial partners is ongoing at both ministry and government levels.
Romania evaluated several IFV candidates before selecting the Lynx KF41. Competing platforms reportedly included Sweden’s CV90 from BAE Systems Hägglunds, South Korea’s AS21 Redback developed by Hanwha, and the Ascod vehicle produced by General Dynamics European Land Systems. The final selection was made by a committee consisting of defense ministry officials and representatives from the state-owned defense company Romtehnica.
When the procurement effort was launched in July 2025, Romanian authorities explained that the first group of vehicles would be built by the chosen supplier, after which local defense manufacturers would gradually assume responsibility for producing the remaining IFVs. The government stated that a key objective is to secure the supply chain by transferring assembly, integration, testing, and maintenance expertise to Romania.
With this decision, Romania joins other NATO countries on the alliance’s eastern flank that operate the Lynx platform. Hungary became the first country to order the vehicle in 2020, purchasing 218 units. Rheinmetall later established a dedicated production facility in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary, in August 2023 to support manufacturing.
In January 2026, Rheinmetall announced that Germany would finance the delivery of five Lynx IFVs to Ukraine, describing the move as part of a broader future procurement effort. The company also indicated that production of the vehicle could eventually take place in Ukraine.
Rheinmetall said the Lynx KF41 was selected following extensive testing and that the vehicles intended for Ukraine would be equipped with the two-person Lance turret and customized to meet the operational needs of Ukrainian forces. The company added that future procurement phases are expected to include expanded production activities within Ukraine.
Earlier that same month, Italy received its first four Lynx IFVs as part of a much larger planned acquisition of 1,050 vehicles. The program is being carried out through a partnership between Italy’s Leonardo and Rheinmetall.
