German-Israeli company FTS unveils new light combat vehicle for German Special Forces

A TAHR light airborne combat vehicle was unveiled Sept. 15 in Germany. (Photo courtesy of FTS)

JERUSALEM — Flensburg Technology Systems (FTS) — a joint venture between German company Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft mbH (FFG) and Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI) — and the German Special Forces Command (KSK) have unveiled a new light airborne combat vehicle in Germany, just one year after signing a framework agreement.

Dubbed TAHR, the vehicle “features an open, integrated concept that provides operators with a clear view of their immediate surroundings from within the vehicle, while also allowing for the integration of various weapon systems,” according to an announcement posted Tuesday by the companies.

“Unveiling of the first pre-series vehicle is taking place ahead of schedule and demonstrates the focused and results-oriented collaboration between the German-Israeli joint venture FTS and the end user, the German Special Forces Command,” the statement noted.

Under the framework agreement signed between the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) and FTS in 2025, 200 of the vehicles will be delivered, though the statement did not specify by when. Two TAHR vehicles can fit on a Chinook, according to FTS.

“Immediately after landing and exiting the aircraft, full combat readiness can be achieved within a very short timeframe, a fundamental requirement of the KSK,” FTS noted.

Brig. Gen. Andreas Kühne, commander of Germany’s special forces command, added that the TAHR can also be dropped from the air.

“The KSK’s mission is to successfully conduct special forces operations worldwide and under all conditions,” he said. “To do this, the KSK requires not only high mobility but also a variety of suitable modes of transport depending on the situation, mission, and terrain.”

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FTS says the vehicle comes in two variants, a “light airborne combat vehicle and the light airborne support vehicle — both variants are based on a highly mobile, all-terrain platform that is already combat proven and in service, which was rapidly adapted to meet the KSK’s mission-specific requirements.” The statement adds that the vehicle can also integrate different weapon systems.

Growing Ties Between Jerusalem And Berlin

Tuesday’s unveiling of the TAHR vehicle represents the latest collaboration between Germany and Israel.

In a company statement, IAI CEO Guy Bar Lev said, “IAI views Germany as a strategic partner in developing joint defense capabilities over the long term. Our cooperation spans multiple domains, from air and maritime to land, and is grounded in the combination of technology, expertise, and industrial capabilities on both sides.

“We are committed to further deepening this cooperation and jointly developing solutions to address the evolving security challenges of the years ahead,” he continued.

Earlier this month IAI said that the German Navy had completed a successful test of IAI’s naval Lora missile. Germany is also acquiring IAI’s Arrow air defense system in a $6.5 billion deal.

Other Israeli defense giants are also active in Germany. Rafael Advanced Defense Systems recently entered into an agreement in Lower Saxony to transform the Volkswagen site in Osnabrück into a center for air defense systems production.

Rafael has also integrated its EuroTrophy active protection system onto Germany’s Leopard tanks. Israel’s Elbit Systems has partnered with Diehl Defense to pitch its SkyStriker Loitering munition in Germany.

Sales go the other way as well. Israel acquired its new Dolphin-class submarines and Sa’ar 6 corvettes from German naval shipyards.

9月15日，德国公开展示了一款名为“塔赫”（TAHR）的轻型空降作战车辆。（图片由FTS提供）

耶路撒冷——德国弗伦斯堡车辆制造有限公司 (FFG) 和以色列航空航天工业公司 (IAI) 的合资企业弗伦斯堡技术系统公司 (FTS) 与德国特种部队司令部 (KSK) 在签署框架协议仅一年后，在德国推出了一款新型轻型空降作战车辆。

据两家公司周二发布的公告称，这款名为 TAHR 的车辆“采用开放式一体化设计，使操作人员能够从车内清晰地看到周围环境，同时还允许集成各种武器系统”。

声明指出：“首辆预生产型车辆的亮相比原计划提前，这表明德以合资企业FTS与最终用户德国特种部队司令部之间开展了目标明确、以结果为导向的合作。”

根据德国联邦国防军装备、信息技术和在役支持办公室 (BAAINBw) 与 FTS 于 2025 年签署的框架协议，将交付 200 辆 TAHR 车辆，但声明并未具体说明交付时间。FTS 表示，一架“支奴干”直升机可以搭载两辆 TAHR 车辆。

“着陆并离开飞机后，即可在很短的时间内达到完全战斗准备状态，这是KSK的基本要求，”FTS指出。

德国特种部队司令部司令安德烈亚斯·库恩准将补充说，TAHR 也可以从空中投放。

他说：“科索沃特种部队的任务是在全球范围内、在任何条件下成功执行特种作战行动。为此，科索沃特种部队不仅需要高度机动性，还需要根据情况、任务和地形配备各种合适的运输方式。”

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除了对外销售，拉斐尔的模式还实现了技术转让和本地工程，并为北约合作伙伴提供了一个模板。

FTS公司表示，该车辆有两种型号：“轻型空降作战车辆和轻型空降支援车辆——两种型号均基于一款高机动性、全地形平台，该平台已在实战中得到验证并投入使用，并迅速进行了改装以满足KSK的特定任务需求。”声明还补充说，该车辆还可以集成不同的武器系统。

耶路撒冷与柏林之间的联系日益紧密

周二发布的 TAHR 车辆代表了德国和以色列之间最新的合作成果。

IAI首席执行官盖伊·巴尔·莱夫在一份公司声明中表示：“IAI将德国视为长期发展联合防御能力的战略伙伴。我们的合作涵盖多个领域，从空中和海上到陆地，并以双方的技术、专业知识和工业能力的结合为基础。”

他继续说道：“我们致力于进一步深化这种合作，共同制定解决方案，以应对未来几年不断变化的安全挑战。”

本月初，以色列航空工业公司（IAI）宣布，德国海军已成功完成其“罗拉”（Lora）舰载导弹的测试。此外，德国还将以65亿美元的价格采购IAI的“箭”（Arrow）防空系统。

其他以色列国防巨头也在德国开展业务。拉斐尔先进防御系统公司最近与下萨克森州的一家公司达成协议，将奥斯纳布吕克的大众汽车工厂改造成防空系统生产中心。

拉斐尔公司已将其EuroTrophy主动防护系统集成到德国的豹式坦克上。以色列埃尔比特系统公司与迪尔防务公司合作，在德国推销其SkyStriker巡飞弹。

销售情况也恰恰相反。以色列从德国海军造船厂购买了新型海豚级潜艇和萨尔6型轻型护卫舰。