More leopard tractors for the Bundeswehr

The Bundeswehr has commissioned Rheinmetall to deliver additional heavy tractor units HX81 with a payload class of 70 tons (SaZgM 70t mil). In 2021 and 2022, 24 more unprotected heavy transporters will be delivered.

The tractor units are primarily used by the armed forces for transporting heavy armored vehicles, such as the Leopard 2 main battle tank. In 2018, the Bundeswehr signed a framework contract with Rheinmetall for the delivery of up to 137 SaZgM 70t mil. This contract runs for seven years and has a potential total order value of 122 million EUR gross. Between 2019 and 2020, 32 vehicles were already delivered. The HX81 tractor unit from Rheinmetall is equipped with an eight-cylinder diesel engine with 680 hp. This allows the highly mobile all-wheel-drive truck to reach a top speed of 89 km/h and overcome gradients of 60 percent. The technically permissible total train weight is 130 tons. The HX81 tractor unit features the same driver's cabin as the UTF vehicle family from Rheinmetall. The cabin can be exchanged for a protected variant if necessary. The vehicle equipment also includes a double winch system from Rotzler with a pulling force of 20 tons each.

The HX81 adds to the family of heavy transporters (SLT) of the Bundeswehr. The unprotected HX81 complements the protected Mammoth heavy transporter, which was also delivered by Rheinmetall. Particularly with regard to Germany's commitment to provide the fast NATO Response Force Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF 2023) in 2023, the transportation of heavy combat vehicles is a key capability. All information about the HX series from Rheinmetall.

RHEINMETALL online: rheinmetall-defence.com