English: Pictured is one of the Army’s fleet of FUCHS reconnaissance vehicles being put through its paces by Falcon Squadron Royal Tank Regiment.

The FUCHS has reached Full Operational Capability (FOC) after the Defence-board launched a directed regeneration project in February 2014. Under a new contract secured by the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Delivery Team (CBRN) with Fahrzeugwerk GmbH in Germany, the project has seen the extended regeneration of 8 Fuchs Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) Area Survey & Reconnaissance vehicles, as well as one attrition reserve and two training vehicles.

The Fuchs vehicles have been fully restored to the previous in-service standard after work ranging from fitting new tyres through to being repainted in ‘desert sand’, as well as providing safety improvements including the addition of a Vehicle Emergency Lighting System.

Fuchs (German for fox) is a 6-wheeled, armoured, all-wheel drive vehicle, which has been adapted to carry out chemical, radiological and nuclear survey and reconnaissance with a crew of four. It brings together the ability to detect contamination, take samples if required, accurately identify its location, mark it and report details.The vehicle is crewed by the newly formed Falcon Squadron under 22 Engineer Regiment, who have been undergoing extensive training to gradually increase expertise and knowledge of the platform.