Yesterday, the Bundeswehr's procurement agency, BAAINBw, signed a framework contract for 4,000 military trucks worth up to two billion euros. In a first tranche, 540 swap body systems in the 15 tonne load class were ordered, 230 of which had protected cabins.
Delivery is scheduled to begin in early 2021 in order to have enough vehicles available for the NATO spearhead VJTF (L) 2023. This is an important step towards modernizing and renewing the Bundeswehr's truck fleet, which Inspector General Eberhard Zorn proposed for the federal government's economic stimulus program. The new vehicles should be more environmentally friendly and more economical.
The robust, off-road HX 8×8 vehicles from Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV) can be equipped with either a protected or unprotected cabin. The core equipment is the hook loader developed by Hiab, with which the associated swap bodies (Flaracks) can be quickly picked up and set down. These are swap bodies that are identical to those of the already introduced Multi system. In addition, the vehicles can also accommodate a swap body or a container via the standardized 20 foot ISO interfaces.
In contrast to the unprotected transport vehicles (UTF), which are also supplied by RMMV, they tend to move in the front areas of the operational areas, for example when supplying ammunition for combat and combat support troops, which is why they must have a better level of protection.
Depending on the threat situation, the 3-man cabs can be set up alternately in a protected or variant. In the protected version, they offer the occupants protection against explosive attacks, small arms fire and the effects of NBC weapons.
Dorothee Frank
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