Rheinmetall has developed a new armored personnel carrier designated R495. Prototypes have been built with five and six roadwheels. The company has offered the vehicle to the British Army to meet its Future Rapid Effects System requirement. The six-roadwheel version with a turret-mounted 30mm cannon weighs 26.6 tonnes; the five-roadwheel version with a remotely operated 7.62mm machinegun weighs 21.2 tonnes.--Stephen V Cole