1,515 new military trucks for the German Armed Forces

Rheinmetall has been contracted by the Bundeswehr for a further delivery of 1,515 logistic vehicles, including 265 protected swap body systems. This is another call-off from the framework contract for swap body systems (WLS) concluded in June 2020. The financing of this major call-off is largely covered by the Bundeswehr's special assets.

In addition to the vehicles, the procurement agency of the Bundeswehr (BAAINBw) has ordered 500 swap body platforms as interchangeable load carriers and 500 tarpaulin/canvas superstructures. The order value of the call-off is over 920 million euros gross. The vehicles will be delivered in the second half of 2024 and will be completed by mid-November 2024.

In June 2020, BAAINBw signed a framework contract with Rheinmetall for the delivery of up to 4,000 trucks with swap body systems (WLS) until 2027, of which 1,008 have already been delivered. The WLS trucks build on the successful project of Unprotected Transport Vehicles (UTF) and expand the Bundeswehr's military vehicle fleet of the HX family. The core equipment of the WLS is the hook loader developed by the company Hiab. This allows the swap body platforms introduced into the Bundeswehr to be picked up and set down in almost any terrain without additional handling equipment. Alternatively, the vehicles can also transport a swap body or a container via the standardized 20-foot ISO interfaces.

A significant portion of the Bundeswehr's WLS trucks will feature a protected variant with an armored cabin, significantly increasing the survival and endurance capability as well as the tactical flexibility of logistical units and forces. The WLS vehicles are used in particular for supplying combat units with consumable items such as ammunition, fuel, or water.

Both the WLS and the UTF are based on Rheinmetall's robust HX vehicle family. Designed from the outset for military use, they are characterized by excellent mobility even in rough terrain. The high global prevalence of the HX vehicle family brings significant advantages in terms of interoperability and logistics, especially for multinational operations. Currently, countries such as Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Hungary, and Denmark are among the user group. Rheinmetall aims to continue the success story of the logistics vehicle projects together with the Bundeswehr and partner armed forces that also use the proven HX vehicles.

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