Overview
- Boris Rhein, Hendrik Wüst, Markus Söder, Winfried Kretschmann and Olaf Lies pressed for a German-built replacement in a letter to Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
- The premiers argue national products should be prioritized for economic, technological and security reasons, warning that end-assembly of foreign designs in Germany leaves most value creation abroad.
- Their letter says the federal government is considering foreign manufacturers, including a Finnish Patria 6x6 with partial domestic assembly, and states that one foreign vehicle has already been procured.
- Rheinmetall has offered a domestic “Fuchs 2” option as the Bundeswehr prepares to replace a platform it calls the multitool of the land forces, with about 40 variants in service.
- Copies of the letter went to Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, Economy Minister Katherina Reiche and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, and reporting cites a potential order of up to 1,000 vehicles worth roughly €2 billion.