Rheinmetall to supply additional 1,000 trucks to Bundeswehr

Düsseldorf-based technology group Rheinmetall has received a contract to supply an additional 1,000 trucks to Bundeswehr, the unified armed forces of Germany.

The logistic vehicles procurement is valued approximately €400m ($445m).

This latest order falls under the original framework contract awarded by the Federal Office for Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) and signed on 5 July 2017.

The framework contract has a performance period of seven years and covers the supply of 2,271 military trucks from Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles’ (RMMV) HX family.

The trucks are being purchased as part of Bundeswehr’s “Unprotected Transport Vehicles” project. Rheinmetall is currently supporting Bundeswehr’s trucks fleet modernisation.

Out of the 1,000 vehicles requested, 675 will have a 5t payload, while the other 325 will have 15t load-carrying capacity.

Work under the contract will commence this month and the vehicles are expected to be delivered by the end of the year.

The trucks will be assembled at the RMMV plant in Vienna. Components such as engines, axles and transmissions are manufactured in Germany.

Orders under the framework contract were placed in instalments, with initial supply covering 558 vehicles. It was followed by an order of 252 and 60 vehicles in May and November 2019, respectively.

The military trucks are built with off-road capability. They are expected to join the Bundeswehr’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) 2023 mission.

RMMV vehicles are currently used by the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Denmark, with Norway and Sweden expected to join the list soon.