Strategically, the In partnership with Mercedes-Benz and ACS Armoured Car Systems, Rheinmetall has tailored the new versatile and highly mobile 4×4 vehicle family to the requirements of platforms for airborne or special operations units. Caracal is expanding Rheinmetall’s portfolio in the field of light tactical wheeled vehicles, thus addressing the growing demand of specialized and airmobile forces. Primarily aimed at airborne and special operations missions, the compact 4×4 keeps operators agile and dominant through speed, a low-signature profile, scalable protection and a multitude of armaments.
Based on the latest militarized and series-proven G-Class chassis, the CARACAL enables a wide array of capabilities covering the full airborne operational spectrum. The compact vehicle design allows air-transportability as internal load or as underslung transport matching with the latest CH-47F Chinook and CH-53K King Stallion helicopters and comes with highest mobility, a lightweight superstructure and optionally mountable ballistic protection elements. Its unique modular design allows CARACAL to serve in airborne operations in various roles ranging from simple troop transport, via ambulance applications to combat engineer groups and different logistic applications.
The vehicle is being manufactured by Armored Car Systems GmbH (ACS), based in Aichach, a wholly owned subsidiary of ‘Gruma Commercial Vehicles’ based in Derching. It is a significantly further developed LAPV Enok, based on the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. The very modular body concept gives the armed forces never seen flexibility. The basis of the ENOK 4.8 AB is military chassis from Mercedes-Benz. ACS has defined and structured the manufacturing processes and procedures for these vehicles accordingly. The result is that the ENOK 4.8 AB offers not only high quality but also excellent price-performance on the European market.
Rheinmetall offers full lifecycle support for a period exceeding twenty years. Eurosatory 2022 takes place in Paris 13 to 17 June. Under the motto “Move – Sense – Strike”, Rheinmetall is showcasing part of its comprehensive range of products and activities there. Occupying an exhibition area of around 3,000 square metres, Rheinmetall’s presence this year will be its biggest ever at Eurosatory. Rheinmetall now offers a complete range of military land mobility capabilities, from tactical wheeled vehicles to military and militarized trucks to tracked vehicles, including Lynx KF41 IFV and fully-fledged MBT Panther KF51.
