Germany and the Netherlands are set to acquire hundreds of newly developed Jackal wheeled infantry fighting vehicles through a multibillion-dollar deal, as announced by co-producer Rheinmetall on Monday. This contract, valued at €3.4 billion (approximately $4 billion), is managed by the European defense-acquisition organization OCCAR.

Under this agreement, the German Bundeswehr will receive 150 combat vehicles, while the Dutch forces will get 72. The Jackal, also known as Schakal in German, is built on the Boxer wheeled chassis, which is renowned for its modular adaptability across various defense applications. It is equipped with the turret and 30mm main gun derived from the Puma, a tracked light tank designed for heavier forces.

Germany and the Netherlands frequently collaborate on weapons purchases and share command over certain segments of their military operations. Rheinmetall’s involvement in the Jackal deal comprises nearly €3 billion, in partnership with KNDS Germany through their joint venture, Artec, focusing on Boxer-related projects.

OCCAR has indicated that the latest variant of the Boxer vehicle brings the organization’s total investment in the program to €10 billion. In addition, Germany has recently commissioned battlefield ambulances utilizing the Boxer chassis. Future developments include a bridge-laying version for river crossings and a howitzer variant based on Germany’s Panzerhaubitze 2000.

Sebastian Sprenger, the associate editor for Europe at Defense News, specializes in covering the defense market in the region, along with U.S.-Europe cooperation and multinational investments in defense and global security. He is based in Cologne, Germany.