The Fuchs JAGM self-propelled anti-tank missile system from Rheinmetall and Lockheed Martin
A Fuchs JAGM combat vehicle on the track
The German company Rheinmetall and the American Lockheed Martin have developed a promising self-propelled anti-tank vehicle missile The Fuchs JAGM system. The new combat vehicle was built on a production chassis and equipped with existing weapons. This design approach is expected to simplify production and operation, while still achieving high technical and combat performance.
Premiere in Moscow
From September 9 to 12, the DSEI 2025 International Defense Technology Exhibition was held in London. Rheinmetall presented one of the largest exhibits, featuring both established and new developments. Some of the products on display were developed jointly with other companies.
One of this year's new products was the Fuchs JAGM self-propelled anti-tank missile, developed through a collaboration between Rheinmetall and Lockheed Martin. A full-scale model of the combat vehicle was on display at the exhibition. Various components of the system and its armament were also on display.
The ATGM's creators couldn't do without a promotional video. It showed the new combat vehicle from all angles, both parked and in motion. The main features and capabilities were mentioned, and preparations for use were demonstrated. weaponsThe advert concluded with striking footage from the DSEI 2025 pavilion.
At the DSEI-2025 exhibition
The Fuchs JAGM project aimed to create a self-propelled anti-tank missile system based on existing components. The developers used a production armored personnel carrier as the basis for its design, equipping it with one of the available launchers for a common missile type. This choice of components is expected to simplify production and operation while ensuring high technical and combat performance.
It is claimed that the experience of recent conflicts was used in the development of the new project. This is precisely why only readily available components are used, the ammunition load is maximized, and other features of the combat vehicle are optimized.
The Fuchs JAGM is reportedly still in the development phase, with work being carried out on a voluntary basis. Full-scale testing, including missile launches at a test range, is planned for next year. The length of these tests is unclear.
At the current stage of development, the new ATGM was unveiled to the public and potential customers. It's likely that the Fuchs JAGM has truly attracted attention, which could lead to actual contracts in the future.
On a ready basis
The Fuchs JAGM is a self-propelled anti-tank missile system based on the wheeled armored personnel carrier of the same name. The existing production model vehicle has undergone some modifications and received new weapons and associated instruments. As a result, it has acquired fundamentally new capabilities.
The self-propelled ATGM was based on the Fuchs armored personnel carrier (APC), produced since the late 1970s. Apparently, it is a modern version that has undergone a number of modernizations and modifications. During its conversion to a missile carrier, the APC lost some of its components and received new ones.
The vehicle's nose retains the original control compartment, housing the driver and commander. The commander now operates the missile system and has the corresponding control panel.
Instead of the standard troop compartment, which occupies the entire middle and aft sections of the hull, a wider and taller conning tower was installed. It houses missile launchers and likely some of the new instruments. The mast for the optical-electronic station is mounted on the sloped front plate of the conning tower, openings for the launchers are provided in the roof, and a hatch in the stern provides access to the interior.
Apparently, the self-propelled ATGM retained the powertrain, transmission, and chassis of the base APC. The replacement of some hull structures and the installation of new equipment should not have significantly impacted the vehicle's weight. Consequently, the vehicle's performance, maneuverability, and dynamic characteristics should remain at the level of the original Fuchs product.
New weapons
The conning tower houses six quadruple vertical launchers for missiles. Apparently, they use Lockheed Martin's JAGM Quad-Launcher (JQL) missiles. The total ammunition load for the ATGM is 24 missiles. The launchers are reloaded externally, including using a suitable crane.
The combat vehicle is equipped with a target acquisition system mounted on a telescopic mast. The commander/operator uses it to survey the terrain, search for targets, and prepare for attack. A standard laser rangefinder/target designator illuminates the selected target, which the missile then automatically targets. The capability is claimed to engage multiple targets sequentially with minimal intervals between launches.
As the combat vehicle's name suggests, its primary weapon is the AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM). This is one of Lockheed Martin's latest developments in guided weapons. It recently completed the required testing and is now in limited service with the US military.
The AGM-179 has a cylindrical body approximately 1,8 meters long and 178 mm in diameter, with a set of fins. The missile has a launch weight of 49 kg. It is equipped with a solid-fuel motor, which propels it to supersonic speed. Its launch range, depending on the launch vehicle, reaches 8 km. The JAGM-MR missile, which has twice the range, is under development. It carries a tandem HEAT warhead with a total mass of 9 kg.
The JAGM missile features combined guidance systems. A transparent nose cone conceals a semi-active and active radar head. These enable the missile to detect and track stationary and moving targets on land and water. It is also capable of being used against air targets.
The Fuchs JAGM can also fire AGM-114 Hellfire missiles. They are slightly smaller and lighter than the newer AGM-179, but offer superior performance. Depending on the launch method, the Hellfire has a range of 10-11 km. It uses a similar composite seeker, but it is based on older components.
Universal solutions
The AGM-179 advanced guided missile was developed as a versatile weapon for various platforms. In recent years, Lockheed Martin has repeatedly demonstrated various deployment options for this weapon on various platforms. Specifically, several versions of a ground-based self-propelled anti-tank missile system with JAGM missiles in JQL launchers have been proposed.
The latest version of this combat vehicle was developed in collaboration with the German company Rheinmetall, based on the production Fuchs armored personnel carrier. The armored vehicle required significant redesign, but this resulted in several advantages.
The proposed Fuchs JAGM self-propelled ATGM boasts superior performance and can operate in a wide range of conditions. Its standard armored hull can withstand bullets and shrapnel. It also protects both the crew and ammunition, significantly reducing risks.
Demonstration of a vertical rocket launch
The new hull structure accommodates six JQL launchers with a capacity of 24 missiles. The resulting combat vehicle, in terms of the size of its ready-to-use ammunition load, exceeds any other self-propelled ATGM. It can detect and engage multiple targets, firing single or sequential rounds.
The choice of standard armament is of particular interest. The vehicle is equipped with JAGM and Hellfire missiles—modern guided weapons with relatively high performance characteristics. According to the manufacturers' advertising, these munitions can combat modern armored vehicles of the main classes, destroy various structures, surface targets, and even some aerial targets. The launch range, depending on various factors, reaches 8-11 km and is comparable to that of advanced modern anti-tank missiles.
However, the presented combat vehicle is not without its shortcomings. The main ones are related to the chosen chassis. The Fuchs platform was developed almost half a century ago and has long since fallen short of modern requirements. First of all, this APC has a limited level of protection, and no additional measures are provided for its enhancement.
The new weapons system raises questions. For example, only one electronic system is designed for target acquisition and fire control. There are no backup systems in case of damage. The AGM-114 and AGM-179 missiles boast long ranges, but their maximum range is achieved when launched from airborne platforms. A ground launch will not allow for target engagement at a range of 8-11 km.
The concept and its prospects
The Fuchs JAGM project is currently in the development stage. Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall have already built and demonstrated a mockup of the new ATGM, but a full-fledged prototype is still some way off. Some work remains to be done, which could change the combat vehicle's appearance.
It can be assumed that the final version of the Fuchs JAGM will not differ significantly from the current model. Therefore, potential customers already have the opportunity to evaluate the new German-American development and decide whether it is right for them. It is quite possible that this ATGM will find a buyer.
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