Rheinmetall partners with Patria to develop a new Lynx KF41 NEMO mortar variant for Hungary.

On April 9, 2025, Patria confirmed it had signed a supply agreement with Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH and Rheinmetall Hungary to deliver at least 24 Patria NEMO 120 mm turreted mortar systems. These systems will be integrated into a new Lynx KF41 variant for the Hungarian Armed Forces under the framework of the country’s ongoing ZRINYI defence modernisation programme. This development represents a continued expansion of the strategic cooperation between Finnish and German industry players and further cements Hungary’s position as a key European operator of the Lynx platform.
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The inclusion of the NEMO mortar variant, validated through integration trials in September 2024, marks the eighth known variant of the Lynx within Hungary’s growing fleet. (Picture source: Patria)

Hungary, a NATO and EU member, became the launch customer for the Lynx KF41 in September 2020 after signing a €2 billion contract with Rheinmetall. Under this contract, Hungary committed to acquiring 218 Lynx vehicles in seven main configurations: infantry fighting vehicles, command post vehicles, reconnaissance vehicles, joint fire observer vehicles, 120 mm mortar carriers, field ambulances, and driver training vehicles. Rheinmetall also agreed to supply nine Buffalo armoured recovery vehicles, simulators, training systems, an initial spare parts package, and maintenance support services. Deliveries were planned in two phases, an initial German-built batch of 46 Lynx and nine recovery vehicles, followed by a Hungarian production run of 172 Lynx units.

The Hungarian government and Rheinmetall established a joint venture to oversee local production. As part of this effort, Rheinmetall opened a new manufacturing facility in Zalaegerszeg on August 18, 2023. The plant began production in early 2023, supported by domestic infrastructure including a 3-square-kilometre test site. The partnership has since expanded to include a concept agreement signed in December 2023 for a Lynx-based air defence vehicle variant armed with the Skyranger 30 turret. The inclusion of the NEMO mortar variant, validated through integration trials in September 2024, marks the eighth known variant of the Lynx within Hungary’s growing fleet and highlights the adaptability of the platform to evolving operational needs.

The Patria NEMO mortar system, named for “New Mortar”, designed by Patria Land Oy in Finland, is a remote-controlled 120 mm turret offering both direct and indirect fire capabilities. It includes a semi-automatic wedge breech and hydro-pneumatic recoil suspension, mounted within a compact 1,900 kg turret that can be installed on 6x6 or 8x8 wheeled vehicles, tracked platforms, and naval vessels. The system is capable of delivering Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact (MRSI) missions with up to five rounds landing at the same time between 1.0 and 6.5 km. Its total firing range exceeds 10 km depending on ammunition, and it supports both conventional and smart guided 120 mm mortar rounds.

NEMO offers fully automated fire control through a networked sensor-to-shooter system. Its modular fire control suite connects forward observers, tactical data networks, and command centres to enable high-tempo battlefield engagements. The system opens fire in under 25 seconds, can relocate instantly after firing thanks to its fire-on-the-move design, and includes backup manual controls. Its elevation range is from –3° to +85°, while the turret has a full 360° traverse. When mounted on a vehicle, it typically carries 50 to 60 rounds, depending on platform capacity. The high rate of fire, 10 rounds per minute maximum, 6 sustained, enhances operational flexibility in mobile or static operations.

The Patria NEMO mortar system, named for “New Mortar”, designed by Patria Land Oy in Finland, is a remote-controlled 120 mm turret offering both direct and indirect fire capabilities. (Picture source: Patria)

In terms of protection and survivability, the NEMO turret features modular ballistic armour to protect the crew against small arms fire, splinters, mines, IEDs, and NBC threats, and includes muzzle blast shielding to reduce vehicle stress. Its lightweight design allows for installation on a wide range of vehicles without compromising their mobility or agility. Patria also offers NEMO in a containerised variant, allowing the system to be deployed from standard 27-foot containers placed on land or aboard vessels. Customers include Slovenia, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Sweden, and Germany, while potential users include the Czech Republic, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States, where the system was tested in 2024 aboard the AMPV platform at Fort Moore, Georgia.

The Lynx KF41, where “KF” stands for Kettenfahrzeug, or “tracked vehicle,” developed by Rheinmetall, is a next-generation tracked armoured vehicle based on modular design principles. It can be adapted into infantry fighting vehicle, command and control, reconnaissance, ambulance, recovery, or mortar carrier configurations using interchangeable mission modules. The KF41 version, larger than the original KF31, supports a three-person crew and up to nine dismounts. Modularity extends to the survivability and mission systems, with scalable armour packages and a digital backbone that facilitates integration of subsystems, including unmanned turrets, active protection systems, loitering munitions, and electronic warfare modules.

The vehicle is powered by an 850 kW (1,140 hp) Liebherr diesel engine and equipped with a Renk transmission, providing a top speed of up to 70 km/h and a 500 km operational range. It is capable of climbing a 1-meter vertical obstacle, fording 1.5 meters of water, and traversing a 2.5-meter trench. Depending on configuration, the KF41 weighs between 30 and 45 tonnes and offers a payload capacity of up to six tonnes. It incorporates torsion bar suspension with Supashock dampers and features decoupled seating, a rear power-operated ramp, and NBC filtration, ensuring crew protection in asymmetric and high-intensity combat environments.

The Lynx’s standard IFV variant mounts the Lance 2.0 turret, which includes the 35 mm Wotan autocannon, coaxial machine guns, and optional Spike LR2 ATGMs or UAV launchers. The turret includes modular mission pods, advanced optics, target recognition and tracking systems, and Rheinmetall’s StrikeShield active protection system. The modularity of the turret allows easy adaptation to other roles, including mortar carrier when fitted with Patria NEMO. The Lynx family continues to evolve, with variants such as the Lynx 120 fire support model, the Combat Support Vehicle, and export-configured units for Italy, Ukraine, and potential future users like Romania, Greece, and the United States under the XM30 MICV programme.

Hungary, a NATO and EU member, became the launch customer for the Lynx KF41 in September 2020 after signing a €2 billion contract with Rheinmetall. (Picture source: Hungarian MoD)