The Fennek, named after the fennec (a species of small desert fox), or LGS Fennek, with LGS being short for Leichter Gepanzerter Spähwagen in German (Light Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle), is a four-wheeled armed reconnaissance vehicle produced by the German company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Dutch Defence Vehicle Systems. The Turkish company FNSS Defence Systems acquired the right for licence production in 2004. It was developed for both the German Army and Royal Netherlands Army to replace their current vehicles.

History

In April 2000, the prototype vehicle finished field trials and in December 2001 a combined order was placed. The Royal Netherlands Army ordered 410 (202 reconnaissance, 130 MRAT (medium range antitank) and 78 general purpose versions) and the German Bundeswehr ordered 222 (178 reconnaissance, 24 combat engineer and 20 joint fire support teams (JFST)). More Fenneks for the German Army will be procured from 2015 on. Germany plans an overall purchase of approximately 300 Fenneks. The first vehicle was delivered to the Netherlands in July 2003 and the first to Germany in December of the same year. Deliveries will continue until 2011 (additional orders for the German Army are planned from 2015 on). The Dutch SP Aerospace company, which produced the Fennek for the Dutch military, was declared bankrupt in August 2004. A new company called Dutch Defence Vehicle Systems (DDVS) was created to continue the production of the vehicles for the Royal Netherlands Army.

Specifications

The Fennek has four wheels with selectable two or four wheel drive. It has a Deutz diesel engine producing 179 kW, giving it a top speed of 115 km/h (when the speedlimiter is turned off). Tire pressure can be regulated by the driver from inside the vehicle to suit terrain conditions. The primary mission equipment is an observation package mounted on an extendable mast. Sensors include a thermal imager, daylight camera and a laser rangefinder. Combined with the vehicle's GPS and inertial navigation system the operator can accurately mark targets or points of interest and pass that data to the digital battlefield network. The sensor head of the observation package can also be removed and mounted on a tripod for concealed operation, as can the control unit from the vehicle should the crew want to use the entire system dismounted. Many Fenneks of the German Army are also equipped with Aladin miniature UAVs. Various weapons can be fitted, such as a 12.7 mm machine gun for the Dutch reconnaissance version, a Rafael Spike anti-tank missile on the Dutch MRAT version or a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher (HK GMG) or Rheinmetall MG3 for the German vehicles. The Royal Netherlands Army also placed an order at the Turkish company ASELSAN for 18 Raytheon Stinger surface-to-air missile launchers to be fitted on the Fennek. The launcher in this case is the Stinger Weapon Platform (SWP), with four Stinger missiles intended for mid-range air defence. The launcher can be controlled from on board the vehicle, or else remotely as part of a distributed air defense system. On the Dutch Fennek the primary weapon is the 12.7 mm machine gun. The vehicle is protected all-round against 7.62 mm rounds and additional armour can be added if the mission requires. The air conditioning system provides protection against nuclear, biological and chemical warfare and the crew compartment is protected against anti-personnel mines.

Variants

German Army

Variants

This variant has a The BAA surveillance module which is installed on a mast raising up to 1.5 m high. The BAA module has a laser range finder, a digital camera and a thermal imager. The mast can also be mounted on a tripod, and operated from a distance (40 m). The LVB is the main variant in service, it entered in service with the A1 standard, and evolved to the A2. Sub variants: Standard "Fennek 1A3" '' ''This variant is equipped with advanced communication equipment for air support to ground forces. It also has an information system with special software for requesting fire support. It is equipped with the BAA II surveillance module. 'Standard "Fennek 1A4" It is equipped with the improved observation and reconnaissance equipment ( BAA II), the army command and information system "FüInfoSysH"'', the artillery command system ADLER III, and extensive radio equipment

Royal Netherlands Army

Variants of the Fennek in the Royal Netherlands Army: Some are, other aren't equipped with some IED added protection. The sub-variants are: This variant can receive High Frequency radio equipment as it often transports command personnel. The mortar is transported on the roof, and needs to be assembled to fire. At the moment, it is a Medium range variant. It carries a tripod for anti-tank missiles. The variant of the missile use is the Spike MR. The Army intends to purchase long range variants of the missile, thus becoming a LRAT. This variant has a The BAA surveillance module which is installed on a mast raising up to 1.5 m high. The BAA module has a laser range finder, a digital camera and a thermal imager. The mast can also be mounted on a tripod, and operated from a distance (40 m). The LVB is the main variant in service It is equipped with the BAA surveillance module. This variant is equipped with advanced communication equipment for air support to ground forces. It also has an information system with special software for requesting fire support. It is equipped with the BAA surveillance module.

Qatar

JFST (Joint Fire Support Team, some with and without IED added protection)

Operational history

Both Germany and the Netherlands have deployed Fennek reconnaissance vehicles to Afghanistan in support of ISAF. On 3 November 2007, a Dutch Fennek was hit by an improvised explosive device killing one and wounding two other occupants. The vehicle and its crew were taking part in an offensive operation targeting the Taliban in the province of Uruzgan, Afghanistan. In another incident a German Fennek was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. Its hollow charge jet penetrated the vehicle through the right front wheel rim, passed through the vehicle and blew the left door off the hinge. Thanks to the spall liner the crew sustained only negligible injuries.

Operators

Gallery