The Wiesel family of armored weapons carriers was developed for use by the German Army’s airborne troops but also for rapid reaction forces. Weighing at less than three tons in its original versions, they were designed for being air-transportable though any NATO standard transport aircraft, as well as large helicopters like the CH-47 and CH-53 that can carry two. A variety of different armament configurations was available, although the most common were a Rheinmetall 20-mm cannon or a TOW ATGW launcher. Despite its small size and weight, protection against small arms fire and shrapnel was provided thanks to its all-welded steel hull. The Wiesel’s flexibility eventually allowed it to be redesigned with an extended hull that doubled the internal volume thereby allowing it to perform in other roles such as an armored ambulance and an air defense platform. The Wiesel is in service only with the German Army and has been deployed on various peacekeeping operations in Somalia, former Yugoslavia, and the German contingent in Afghanistan.

Development of the Wiesel began in the 1970s but delays resulted in the first production Wiesel 1 units being delivered only until 1989. The Wiesel 1 came in two main variants, the MK 20 A1 with a E6-II-A1 turret fitted with a 20-mm Rheinmetall MK 20 cannon, and the TOW A1 with a TOW ATGW launcher with up to seven missiles (two ready for use). Numerous prototype vehicles were also developed as mortar carriers, HOT ATGM missile platforms, and Stinger anti-aircraft systems. The Wiesel 2, which began as a private venture, features an extended hull that allows as many as three extra troops to be carried and is powered by an uprated Audi engine. Its main variants include the Wiesel 2 LeFlaSys (Leichte Flugabwehrsystem) air defense platform, carrying Stinger SAMs. It is also in use as an ambulance, command and control vehicle, ammunition vehicle, and engineer reconnaissance.