"What if" 8x8 FUCHS (NL)
What if the Dutch bought the 8x8 FUCHS?

In the late 1970s, the German defense industry began the mass production of the latest armored wheeled vehicles, the Fuchs. The Bundeswehr was the first customer of this technology, and soon the first export contracts followed. However, not all foreign armies wanted to purchase the vehicles in their original form. For example, at the request of the Netherlands, a modified BTR TPz 1 Fuchs 8x8 was created.

In its original form, the Fuchs was an armored wheeled vehicle designed for transporting soldiers and weapons. Special versions were also created based on the chassis, which had large cargo and passenger capacity, such as reconnaissance, medical, and command vehicles. The new technology sparked the interest of both German and foreign armies, resulting in the construction of more than 1,700 armored vehicles in various configurations for 12 armies worldwide.

In the early 1980s, the Dutch armed forces showed great interest in the latest German "Fuchs." However, they did not immediately enter into a contract for the delivery of existing vehicles. Based on their own requirements, the Dutch military requested a modified version of the armored personnel carrier, with a different hull and chassis construction. These modifications increased the number of paratroopers transported and expanded the capacity. The improvement in features was proposed mainly to increase firepower.