Germany and the Netherlands took delivery of their first Caracal air assault vehicles on October 29 at Rheinmetall’s plant in Ede, Netherlands, marking the start of a joint procurement program encompassing more than 1,500 light 4x4s built on the Mercedes-Benz G-Class chassis. The Dutch Defense Ministry confirmed the handover on October 30, detailing a shared acquisition designed to equip paratroopers and helicopter-borne infantry units across both nations.
The roughly 4.9-ton vehicle, engineered on the military 464 series of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class chassis, will directly outfit the Dutch 11th Air Assault Brigade and the German Rapid Forces Division (Division Schnelle Kräfte). Both formations have operated under a unified command structure since 2014, when the Dutch brigade integrated into the German division. Because the two armies are purchasing technically identical platforms, troops from either country retain the capability to drive, field-repair, and resupply the cross-border fleet.
Production and Transport Capabilities in Ede
Final assembly of the Caracal takes place at Rheinmetall Defence Nederland’s facility in Ede, located in the central Netherlands. Rheinmetall developed the vehicle in partnership with Mercedes-Benz and Armoured Car Systems (ACS), which supplies the body superstructure. While the formal series-production handover occurred on October 29, the Dutch Ministry of Defence had already received a preliminary unit on September 29 for driver training.
Powered by a 249-horsepower six-cylinder diesel engine, the 4×4 platform achieves a top speed of 140 kilometers per hour. Its compact physical footprint allows two Caracals to fit inside the cargo hold of a single CH-47F Chinook or CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopter, or to be transported as an underslung external load. The vehicle is also certified for tactical airlift aboard C-130, A400M, and C-17 transport aircraft.
Details of Germany and Netherlands' Vehicle Procurement Contract
The milestone stems from a framework contract signed in July 2023 by Germany and the Netherlands with Rheinmetall. Valued at up to €1.9 billion ($2.12 billion) including value-added tax, the agreement covers a ceiling of 3,058 vehicles—specifically up to 2,054 for the Bundeswehr and 1,004 for the Dutch armed forces. Alongside that ceiling, the two allies placed a firm initial order for 1,508 vehicles worth approximately €870 million ($970 million). Germany is financing its procurement through the special defense fund established in 2022 to re-equip the Bundeswehr.
According to Rheinmetall, the overarching agreement includes a 20-year full life-cycle support commitment to ensure long-term operational readiness. The platform accommodates 28 different equipment kits, spanning standard troop transport, ambulance, and supply variants. Armament configurations range from MG5 machine guns and heavy machine guns to automatic grenade launchers and anti-tank systems, supplemented by a co-driver weapon mount. Rheinmetall also exhibited a larger 6×6 variant at the Eurosatory exhibition in Paris, offering an increased payload capacity of 3.3 tons compared to the 1.2-ton limit of the 4×4 model.
