On Wednesday, 26 November 2025, the German company Hensoldt AG announced that it had signed a contract worth nearly 1 billion EUR with the European company General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) – Mowag for the delivery of specialized equipment for 274 Luchs 2 (German: Lynx) wheeled reconnaissance vehicles under the SpähFz NG (Spähfahrzeug Next Generation) program for the Bundeswehr.
During the signing of the contract: at the back, from left: Oliver Dörre (Chief Executive Officer of Hensoldt), Antonio Bueno (President of GDELS). At the front, from left: Dr. Thomas Kauffmann (Managing Director of GDELS Deutschland GmbH and Vice President of GDELS International Business & Services), Christina Canitz (Head of the Optronics Division at Hensoldt), and Mathias Laich (Director of ISTAR at Hensoldt) / Photo: Hensoldt AG
Under the 7-year agreement, Hensoldt AG will supply GDELS with state-of-the-art sensor technology and the Ceretron central mission system. This order is considered the largest single contract in this capability area in the company’s history.
The contract covers the equipment for prototypes and pre-production vehicles, as well as two production batches with completion scheduled by 2032. The first batch includes equipment for 274 vehicles; additional options for further systems are planned. In addition to delivering hardware and software, Hensoldt AG will provide a comprehensive logistics support package—including training, documentation, spare parts supply, and long-term system support.
“With this order, HENSOLDT is underpinning its role as a pioneer of a new technological era in defence and sustainably strengthening the modernisation of the German reconnaissance forces,” said Oliver Dörre, CEO of HENSOLDT AG. “In the age of networked operations, data is the new ammunition. The LUCHS 2 thus represents a clear paradigm shift: We are developing systems whose capabilities are no longer static, but can be further developed in a software-defined, modular manner throughout their entire life cycle. In this way, we are creating genuine information superiority, increasing the Bundeswehr’s capacity to act and, at the same time, securing Europe’s technological sovereignty.”
Ceretron – brain of Luchs 2
Ceretron is the central mission system of the Luchs 2. It integrates the platform’s numerous sensors across various electromagnetic spectra, processes their data in real time, and uses it to generate a coherent picture of the tactical situation inside the vehicle. With AI-assisted image processing, Ceretron automatically detects, identifies, and tracks objects and persons, thus providing decision-critical information directly to the crew and command structures.
Thanks to its programmable architecture, compliant with NATO’s Generic Vehicle Architecture (NGVA), Ceretron is scalable and flexible: new capabilities, functions, and algorithms can be integrated without modifying the vehicle’s hardware, thereby increasing system performance throughout its lifecycle. Sensor extensions can be integrated into the hardware when needed and then combined with the software. At the same time, Ceretron reduces the crew’s cognitive load by automatically processing, prioritizing, and presenting information in an understandable manner. The resulting situational picture is available in the appropriate form for every user of the platform—a core principle of software-defined military systems and a major advantage enabling fast and safe decision-making in the field.
In Luchs 2 vehicles, a wide range of sensors will be natively integrated with the Ceretron system. This will enable coherent, comprehensive data management and an unprecedented level of automated sensor fusion.
BAA IV – Long-Range Reconnaissance
In addition to the combined thermal and daylight sensors with a laser rangefinder and target illuminator, the multispectral, optoelectronic observation and reconnaissance system can also be optionally equipped with a Short-Wavelength Infrared (SWIR) camera to ensure optimal visibility in difficult weather conditions (rain, fog, etc.).
SETAS – All-Round Visibility and Real-Time Protection
The SETAS (See-Through Armour System), based on augmented reality technology, provides full 360-degree visibility day and night. The crew remains protected inside the vehicle while continuously monitoring the surroundings. SETAS detects threats at an early stage, in real time.
The mission system also includes a radio direction finder (RDF), a laser warning system, and acoustic sensors that detect and partially locate relevant signals, not only immediately warning the crew of threats but also enabling them to respond optimally.
Christina Canitz, Head of Optronics Division at HENSOLDT, said:
“For the LUCHS 2, we are combining our core optronic and sensor capabilities into a powerful overall system. It is crucial that the crew can see, recognise and make safe decisions under all conditions. With this range of capabilities, we are creating clear operational added value for the Bundeswehr’s reconnaissance forces.”
MDOcore – The Backbone of Multi-Domain Missions
Ceretron can be seamlessly integrated with Hensoldt’s new multi-domain software suite, MDOcore, transmitting data and situational information so it can be made available to higher-level users. MDOcore is Hensoldt’s software-based integration platform that networks sensors, effectors, and reconnaissance systems across all domains—land, air, maritime, cyber, and space—as well as within weapons systems, thus forming the technological backbone of future network-enabled defense architectures.
Image: GDELS – Mowag
On 20 October of this year, the Bundeswehr’s Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) signed a contract worth approximately 3 billion EUR with GDELS – Mowag for the delivery of 274 Luchs 2 vehicles.
The contractor proposed a vehicle based on a reduced-size variant of the Piranha V wheeled armored personnel carrier, configured as 6×6 instead of the original 8×8. In addition to the systems described above, it is to be equipped, among other things, with an unmanned weapon station developed by Rheinmetall Electronics in cooperation with the Slovenian company Valhalla Turrets, UHF/VHF radios, satellite communication (SATCOM) systems, and an electronic support measures (ESM) system. Interestingly, the vehicle will be amphibious.
The vehicles will be compatible with the new D-LBO (Digitalisation of Land-Based Operations) battlefield management system and will receive a 25 mm Oerlikon KBA automatic cannon in the weapon module, as well as smoke and aerosol grenade launchers. They are expected to feature high off-road mobility and ballistic protection at the appropriate level.
Hartpunkt reported already on 7 October 2024, still unofficially at that time, that GDELS – Mowag would win the program. It was said to have beaten competing offers from KNDS Deutschland with the Finnish Patria 6×6 armored personnel carrier (which will nevertheless replace the TPz Fuchs 6×6) and from Rheinmetall AG with the TPz Fuchs Evolution (aka Fuchs 1A9).
The Luchs 2 is intended to replace the Leichter Gepanzerter Spähwagen (LGS) Fennek 4×4 in the reconnaissance units (Heeresaufklärungstruppe) of the German Army (Heer), and its name refers to the Spähpanzer 2 (SpPz 2) Luchs 8×8 wheeled reconnaissance vehicle used between 1975 and 2009. Interestingly, early reports suggested that it would be named Korsak, after the corsac fox, echoing the Fennek, but this ultimately did not happen. Initially, starting in October 2023, the Bundeswehr sought a supplier for 254 next-generation vehicles: 92 under the basic order and 162 as options. The final order was increased by 20 units.
@hensoldt receives a high three-digit million-euro order to equip the new LUCHS 2 reconnaissance vehicle with advanced sensors and the CERETRON mission system – strengthening Bundeswehr capabilities through software-defined defence and MDOcore integration: https://t.co/NbOnU3H4q8 pic.twitter.com/LKe0BgUYRV
— HENSOLDT (@hensoldt) November 26, 2025
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- Integration of the MBDA DefendAir Missile with the Skyranger 30 System
- The Bundeswehr Orders 200 TAHR Special Forces Assault Vehicles
