New Zealand officially receives HX44Ms
One of the three new 8x8 heavy recovery vehicles for the NZDF. (Photo: Rheinmetall)
Rheinmetall announced on 8 December that it handed over three HX44M 8x8 heavy recovery vehicles to the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) in a ceremony on 25 November.
The company is also providing initial training on the vehicle with the NZDF.
The HX44Ms were ordered in December 2018. According to Shephard Defence Insight, the NZDF had expected to receive them in 2020 to replace five ageing M1089A1R wreckers.
Gary Stewart, MD of Rheinmetall Defence Australia, said ‘this enhanced recovery capability’ complements 194 HX-series Medium and Heavy Operational Vehicles (MHOV) already in NZDF service for training, operations and HADR.
The HX 8x8 heavy recovery vehicles feature capabilities ‘specifically developed to meet the current and future operational needs of the NZDF’, Rheinmetall noted.
For example, the three new vehicles are the first in the world to use an Integrated Armoured Swap Cabin that allows easy configuration to suit operational needs.
Each HX44M is 2.55m wide and can traverse 1.4m-wide ditches or cross flooded areas 1.5m deep, as well as scale 60° gradients and 30° side slopes. The vehicle can also function in extreme temperatures, ranging from -32°C to 49°C.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
Contract moves new Abrams tank forward in the face of cuts
Several US Army vehicle programmes were axed by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s plans to transform the US Army, as outlined in the Letter to the Force: Army Transformation Initiative document. However, the new generation Abrams M1E3 main battle tank (MBT) was singled out for survival. But what will it look like?
-
Malaysia signs for two additional GM400α air surveillance radars
The order is in addition to two systems ordered in 2023. It forms part of a family of systems which is becoming widely used and part of a growing demand for the capability, both in deliveries and requirements.
-
US Army’s Precision Strike Missile moves into production phase after test successes
Lockheed Martin’s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) is a next-generation surface-to-surface missile system and is a planned replanned replacement for MGM-140 Army Tactical Missiles System (ATACMS). It is to be fired from M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers.
-
British Army considers purchasing the NEMO 120mm mortar turret for the Patria 6×6
Babcock is offering the Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) 6×6 for one of the elements of the UK Land Mobility Programme (LMP). It would be a replacement for some of the UK’s existing armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) fleets including the FV432 which is now some 70 years old.
-
Australia invests $1.4 billion in additional AMRAAM buy
Some of the missiles ordered can be used on the F/A-18F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler and the F35-A Lightning.