Providing ground mobility for air-inserted airborne and special operations forces is a significant challenge that the German-Israeli company FTS seeks to address with its new TAHR light combat vehicle. The TAHR is designed to be air-dropped from military cargo aircraft or transported by helicopter, with two able to be carried aboard a CH-47 Chinook helicopter.
This light airborne combat vehicle, unveiled September 15, is the development of Flensburg Technology Systems (FTS), a joint venture between the German company Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft mbH (FFG) and Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI). The effort is being conducted under an agreement signed in 2025 between the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) and FTS.
The first two pre-series vehicles are being delivered for operator evaluation within one year of the agreement. A major KSK requirement, according to FTS, is that “Immediately after landing and exiting the aircraft, full combat readiness can be achieved within a very short timeframe”. Brig. Gen. Andreas Kühne, commander of Germany’s special forces command (KSK), indicated, “The KSK’s mission is to conduct special forces operations worldwide and under all conditions successfully. 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.”
According to FTS, the vehicle is based on the ZD platform developed by IAI ELTA that is already in Israeli service. It comes in two variants: a “light airborne combat vehicle (LL EGF) and the light airborne support vehicle (LL UstgFzg)”. Each uses the same in-service, combat-proven high-mobility, all-terrain platform which can also integrate different weapon systems. The LL EGF is a combat platform equipped with different weapon systems and mission-specific equipment. The LL UstgFzg is intended for transporting equipment and supplies. The KSK’s total requirement for the TAHR is 200 vehicles, which are expected to be delivered upon completion of the KSK evaluation of the pre-series vehicles.
by Stephen W. Miller
