Rheinmetall has received an order from the Bundeswehr for the replenishment of a total of 23 vehicles of the armoured recovery vehicle series, the so-called Bergepanzer 3 Büffel. This followed a corresponding budgetary decision by the Bundestag on 10 June 2026. The value of the replacement order amounts to a mid-three-digit million-euro range. This configuration reflects the current state of the art and offers potential for future upgrades. Investing in a modernised, future-proof vehicle fleet lays the foundations for the long-term availability of this capability within the Bundeswehr.
As part of Germany’s support for the Ukraine, 21 Bergepanzer 2 (BPz 2) and a further two Bergepanzer 3 (BPz 3) armoured recovery vehicles had previously been handed over to the Ukraine. The decision to issue a replacement order for 23 vehicles compensates for these transfers and strengthens the Bundeswehr’s capabilities in the field of armoured recovery and support vehicles. The first vehicle is scheduled for delivery as early as December 2027, just 18 months after the contract was signed. To enable this early delivery, the Group has pre-financed and commenced production in beforehand. The final vehicle is scheduled for delivery in June 2029.
The Bergepanzer 3 therefore ensures vital long-term support for armoured forces and is designed for being in service for decades. The vehicles are a modernised, obsolescence-cleared version of the well-established Bergepanzer 3 and are known to the customer as the Bergepanzer 3 A2. The replacement order highlights the ongoing importance of the Bergepanzer 3 as a key support system for mechanised forces. This measure is not intended to develop new capabilities, but rather to ensure long-term operational readiness based on a proven, commercially available system manufactured using state-of-the-art processes.
The Bergepanzer 3 Büffel armoured recovery vehicle is based on the Leopard 2’s familiar chassis and has a winch system, a crane boom that can be swivelled through 270° and a support and clearing blade. The hydraulically operated jib crane on the right side of the hull, and its lifting winch is directly integrated into the crane boom. It has a maximum hook load of 30 tonnes with a crane outreach of 90 centimetres from the front edge of the support and clearing blade. The Rotzler Treibmatic TR 650/3 main winch is located in the operating compartment under the intermediate floor. It has a maximum pulling force of 35 tonnes. Loads of 70 to 105 tonnes can be moved in the double and triple pull.
