The agreement could see Rheinmetall deliver 6,500 trucks. (Photo: Rheinmetall)
Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV) has received a €312 million (US$334.5 million) order for 610 vehicles from Germany, the first placed from a framework agreement with a value of as much as €3.5 billion ($3.8 billion) for up to 6,500 trucks.
This framework-contract allows the German Defence Forces (Bundeswehr) to flexibly order further quantities of already introduced unprotected transportation vehicles Unprotected Transport Vehicle (UTF) 5t and UTF 15t-trucks for seven years. In addition to these vehicles the agreement will include the company’s new 4x4 UTF 3.5t.
By the end of 2024, more than 6,000 HX vehicles will have been delivered to the Bundeswehr since 2017, together with the swap-body loader systems (Wechselladersystem or WLS) and 70t tractor units.
The deal was signed on 1 July by Annette Lehnigk-Emden, president of the Defence Procurement Agency (BAAINBw), and the management of RMMV after the budget committee of the Federal German Parliament had approved funding on 26 June.
The funding has come from a special Bundeswehr fund which was established after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to boost defence procurement. Delivery of the first 250 vehicles is expected to take place in 2024.
The new artillery and howitzer factory pre-dates the emphasis on this capability from this month’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR). The first joint industry-government meeting outlined in the review took place this week.
Romania received its first Cobra MkII 4×4 light tactical armoured vehicles, ordered Abrams main battle tanks (MBTs) and VAMTAC light vehicles, and is set to invest billions-of-dollars in infantry fighting vehicles.
The Italian Army operates Pumas in 6×6 and 4×4 configurations but the platforms are ageing and numbers have fallen with obsolescence also being an issue. Any replacement is likely to have a focus on the involvement of local industry.
The VAMTAC (Vehículo de Alta Movilidad Táctico or High Mobility Tactical Vehicle) 4×4 by Urovesa is in service with or has been ordered by eight countries, the most recent being Spain this month and Romania last month.
Lockheed Martin’s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) is a next-generation surface-to-surface missile with the solid rocket motor (SRM) provided by Northrop Grumman. The company is working to boost its SRM production capability.
The CV90 is in service with or ordered by ten countries. The agreement between six of these countries is designed to create commonality to provide economies of scale and a reduced training burden.
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