September 27, 2010:
Germany has ordered another 65 Fuchs (Fox) six wheeled armored vehicles to be upgraded to the 1A8 standard for use by German troops in Afghanistan. The 18 ton Fuchs has a crew of two and carries ten passengers. It has a top speed of 96 kilometers an hour. The vehicle is usually armed with three 7.62mm machine-guns.
The Fuchs 1A8 version, used in Afghanistan, has additional protection against roadside bombs and mines, and has proved to be the best protected German vehicle in Afghanistan. Germany already has 21 Fuchs 1A8s in Afghanistan. Upgrading a Fuchs to 1A8 involves adding more armor and bracing to the existing vehicle, along with improved mechanical systems to handle the additional armor. About 1,200 Fuchs have been manufactured since 1979, and it is in use mainly by Germany (1,003), plus five other countries.