The British Army will receive 500 HX logistics trucks this year from Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles, Rheinmetall's wheeled vehicle division. As part of the Rapid Acquisition Project, the entire procurement process was completed in seven months, writes Defense Equipment & Support (DE&S), the procurement department of the British Ministry of Defense. Collaboration between DE&S, Army Headquarters and Field Army helped push the boundaries of defense procurement and procure all vehicles in just seven months. The contract is worth 282 million euros, equivalent to 330 million euros.
Bei den neu beschafften Fahrzeugen handelt es sich DE&S zufolge um Fahrzeuge der HX-Familie, einer Reihe zweckmäßiger Militärlastwagen, die mit einer Vielzahl von Schutzfunktionen ausgestattet sind, um unser wichtigstes Gut, unsere Mitarbeiter, zu schützen. Die Lkw seien für den Transport von Flatracks vorgesehen, um damit wichtige Logistikgüter wie Munition, Lebensmittel, Wasser und Unterstützungsmaterial zu den Einsatzorten zu transportieren.
Defense Procurement Minister James Cartlidge said: “The rapid delivery of transport capacity to the front line is vital to the British Army’s logistics and operations.”
Major General Darren Crook, Director of the Land Equipment Operating Centre, DE&S, said: “In an ever-changing and demanding operational landscape, it is vital that we can quickly identify what equipment our soldiers need and procure it quickly. It shows what we can achieve when we work together to give our armed forces the equipment they need, when they need it. I am pleased that, together with the industry, we were able to complete this order from conception and approval to contract award and initial delivery in just seven months.”
The British Army has several thousand RMMV HX trucks in use. Some of them have recently been converted into PLS (Pallet Loading System) vehicles, which can load and unload palletized loads using hooks without any additional aids. According to DE&S, the new platforms have several improvements compared to the vehicles already in use, including a higher payload, a smaller turning circle, underrun protection and a more efficient EURO 5 engine.
The rapid procurement of these vehicles comes at an important time as the UK Army faces increased commitments in 2024 as part of Operation MOBILISE and its bid for NATO's new force model. The procurement order will also achieve the goal of the Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Patrick Sanders, to increase the logistical performance of the British Army.
Editorial staff / gwh
