RHEINMETALL: Swap body truck for the German Armed Forces

Rheinmetall has once again received a major order in the field of military logistics vehicles. The Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology and Utilization of the Bundeswehr (BAAINBw) has signed a framework contract with Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV) for the delivery of up to 4,000 swap body trucks, with a large portion of the vehicles equipped with armored cabins. With the framework contract, Rheinmetall will have a total volume of up to 2 billion EUR over the period from 2021 to 2027.

In the first call-off, the production of 540 vehicles has been commissioned, including 230 with protected cabins. This first batch has a gross order value of 348 million EUR, with deliveries scheduled to begin in early 2021. The aim is to ensure that the troops have a sufficient number of vehicles when Germany takes over the lead of NATO's VJTF spearhead in 2023.

The protected swap body systems significantly increase the survival and sustainability as well as the tactical flexibility of the supply troops. In contrast to the unprotected Transport Vehicles (UTF) also supplied by RMMV, they also operate heavily in the forward areas of the operational areas, such as in the ammunition supply for combat and combat support units.

The robust and off-road HX 8x8 vehicles manufactured by RMMV are characterized by high mobility even off-road and can be optionally equipped with a protected cabin. The core equipment is the hook loading system developed by Hiab, which allows the corresponding swap body platforms (Flatracks) to be quickly picked up and set down. In addition, the vehicles can also accommodate a swap body or a container via the standardized 20 foot ISO interfaces.

Identical operation and high commonality as well as parts compatibility with the UTF vehicle family facilitate training, operations, and logistics. By significantly reducing the training time for crew and maintenance personnel, as well as by the high degree of similarity of spare parts and special tools, widespread deployment can be achieved more quickly - and with high efficiency for procurers and users.

With the new order, Rheinmetall can further expand its position as a leading manufacturer of logistics systems and vehicles. Out of the UTF framework contract for 2,271 vehicles issued by BAAINBw on July 5, 2017 and spanning seven years, 1,250 have already been delivered. The majority of the key components - engines, axles, transmissions and superstructures - are of German manufacture, with vehicle assembly taking place at the RMMV plant in Vienna.

The widespread global presence of RMMV vehicles brings great advantages in terms of interoperability and logistics, especially for multinational operations. Currently, countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Denmark are among the users. Norway and Sweden have also placed significant truck orders with Rheinmetall.

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