Rheinmetall and Lockheed Martin have rolled out the Fuchs JAGM, an armored vehicle armed with 24 vertically launched missiles, making it the first of its kind.
Presented as a next-gen tank destroyer, it integrates AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missiles (JAGM) or AGM-114L Hellfires into the combat-proven Fuchs transport vehicle, combining battlefield mobility with precision strike capability.
The 24-missile loadout allows for rapid engagement of ground and aerial threats without the need to frequently reload. An integrated sensor suite also enables the system to detect, track, and attack multiple targets in succession.
“The integration of our JAGM and HELLFIRE missiles into the Fuchs creates a groundbreaking mobile vertical launch system that combines the best of Lockheed Martin’s battle-proven capabilities and Rheinmetall’s expertise,” said Paula Hartley, Vice President and General Manager of Tactical Missiles at Lockheed.
Fuchs Evolution
The carrier vehicle, Rheinmetall’s Fuchs Evolution, is the latest iteration of the 6×6 armored transport vehicle, fielded in more than 60 variants across nine countries.
Upgrades include a modern powertrain with anti-lock braking, central tire inflation, a digital electrical system, and compliance with NATO’s Generic Vehicle Architecture.
The vehicle also offers higher payload capacity, protection against ballistic and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats, built-in test equipment with external diagnostics, and a more spacious interior for crew comfort.
“By combining the Fuchs, which has proven itself in service from the North Cape to the deserts of the Middle East, with the precision of the JAGM and HELLFIRE, we are setting a new standard for modern guided missile systems on the battlefield,” noted Björn Bernhard, Head of Lockheed’s Vehicle Systems Division.
Smart Munition
Lockheed’s JAGM is a precision missile with a 16-kilometer (10-mile) range and a tandem-shaped charge fragmentation warhead.
Its dual guidance — semi-active laser and fire-and-forget radar — lets it hit moving targets with improved accuracy in any weather condition.
Extensively tested, the missile can take out armored vehicles, air defenses, patrol boats, artillery, radar installations, command nodes, and fortified positions.
