PARIS - The Belgian government approved on December 4 the procurement of 108 Fox vehicles from British firm Jankel to meet its rapid response vehicle (RRV) requirement. Jankel won out over an original field of six competing companies, only three of which ultimately submitted formal bids. The cost of the contract was not released by Belgium's Council of Ministers, but previous estimates placed the final price tag somewhere between EUR25-30 million ($27-33 million). The new 4x4 Fox vehicles are a militarized variant of the Toyota 4x4 Land Cruiser and will be assigned to the Light Brigade of the Belgian Army and used for rapid-reaction and expeditionary missions. They can be equipped with a 7.62mm light machine gun, 12.7mm heavy machine gun or 40mm automatic grenade launcher. Each will also be outfitted with ballistic protection.
The new Fox RRVs will replace the final handfuls of Iltis jeeps which have been steadily retired from Belgian Army service. Many of these Iltis (German for "Polecat") jeeps were license-produced in a Volkswagen factory in Brussels in the 1980s and had been replaced in certain mission requirements by heavier, up-armored vehicles.
A contract is expected to be signed in 2016.
You have 0 item(s) in your cart
