As officially announced in a statement published this week, German company Rheinmetall and the Dutch Ministry of Defence have finalized a new agreement for the purchase of up to 20 new 4×4 Ermine vehicles, which are intended to reinforce the capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The deal was reached during the most recent NATO Industry Summit held in The Hague this past Tuesday and was signed in the presence of the Ukrainian Minister of Defence under the framework of the so-called Ukraine Task Force.
According to the manufacturer, the order includes both manned and unmanned variants, with the primary goal of integrating them into Ukrainian units to speed up the evacuation of wounded soldiers from the front lines to nearby hospitals. The Ermine vehicles are specifically designed for such roles, having been conceived as advanced tactical transports capable of functioning as mobile power sources, featuring a payload capacity of up to one ton and a range of around 1,000 kilometers depending on the configuration.
In addition, the new Ermine vehicles not only include the 4×4 manned and unmanned versions acquired for Ukraine, but also 6×6 variants based on the same design and hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system. Rheinmetall has also highlighted the fact that up to four of these vehicles can be transported aboard heavy-lift helicopters such as the CH-47 or CH-53.
Regarding delivery timelines, the agreement stipulates that the new Ermine vehicles will be in Ukrainian hands by 2026, though no specific details were provided about batch shipments, investment amounts, or the exact time of year they will be delivered. It has been emphasized, however, that the production process will involve Dutch defense industry players, notably DEMCON Defence & Security Systems BV and Abiom Communication Systems (ACS) BV.
Commenting on the deal, Coen van Leeuwen, CEO of Rheinmetall Defence Nederland BV, stated: “This marks the first major contract for the Ermine and a significant step forward in supporting Ukraine’s defense efforts (…)We are grateful for the trust in our capacities. Ermine is an innovative and capable solution for the modern battlefield“.
*Image credits: Rheinmetall
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