Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV) is ramping up production of military trucks at its Austrian plant in order to fulfill the growing number of local and foreign contracts. In addition to the production of military trucks, the Vienna plant also produces a number of civilian vehicles. The two production lines are capable of producing 11 trucks per day, but according to the managing director of RMMV-Austria, the production rate should increase to 14 trucks per day.
Military off-road trucks are mainly of the HX series; contracts for more than 12,000 of these machines have been concluded. The HX series appeared in 2003 and has evolved continuously since then. The newest version of the HX2 was first shown in 2012. Australia was the first confirmed customer for this version.
RMMV manufactures a complete chassis, a diesel engine power unit and then installs a three-seat two-door cab, which has improved EMC.
Trucks of the HX series have a cabover configuration. The cabin can be either unprotected (standard), prepared for installation, but not equipped with passive hinged armor, or an all-welded, load-bearing with hinged armor, which the manufacturer calls Integrated Armor Cabin (IAC). The latter can be equipped with a retractable wire cutter, the Rheinmetall Rapid Obscuring System (ROSY) or an active protection system. If necessary, the IAC cab can be replaced with an unprotected cab.
IAC cabins are manufactured at the Rheinmetall plant in Germany and then shipped fully painted to Vienna. In Vienna, the cab is equipped with instruments, driver controls, air conditioning systems and protection against weapons of mass destruction, after which it is installed on the chassis.
Some customers receive complete vehicles from the Vienna plant, while others choose to install their own truck or specialized functional module in order to increase the level of localization and increase the share of the local labor force. Additional cockpit equipment, such as communication systems, a protected combat module or, in some cases, a remotely controlled weapon module, are usually supplied as part of government orders.
The largest customer is Great Britain, which, following the results of the competition, chose the HX series and signed a contract with MAN Truck and Bus for 7415 vehicles in 4x4, 6x6 and 8x8 configurations. Deliveries were completed six months ahead of schedule in mid-2013.
Cargo options
The cargo variants are equipped with a rear platform with drop sides, roof arches and an awning supplied by the British Marshall; The tanker is supplied by Fluid Transfer and the repair module is supplied by ESA.
With the exception of the initial batch of HX trucks used for driver training, the entire UK fleet has a standard cab fitted with overhead armor. Based on operating experience and in order to increase the level of protection against rocket-propelled grenades, according to the Barricade project, they were equipped with a protected weapon module and lattice screens.
In September 2018, RMMV was awarded a UK contract worth € 43 million for 382 upgrade kits for the Enhanced Pallet Loading System (EPLS), which will be integrated into existing British Army HX 8x8 trucks. Deliveries are due to be completed by January 2021.
In addition to the UK, Australia is a large customer, which has ordered 2,536 vehicles as part of the Project Land 121 (Overlander) Phase 3B project, which should be delivered from 2016 to 2020. In September 2018, Australia ordered an additional 1,044 trucks under the Phase 5B contract worth 430 million euros, deliveries on it in 2020-2024.
These trucks are manufactured in Vienna and then sent to Bremerhaven to be shipped by cargo ship to Australia. Cargo options are shipped complete, but all the necessary equipment is installed on dump trucks and tractors in Australia.
Australia operates the HX2 series trucks in 4x4, 6x6, 8x8 and 10x10 variants, most of the latter are in evacuation and repair configuration, but a small part is equipped with a Dry Support Bridge (DSB) from Williams Fairey Engineering Limited (WFEL). The 10x10 machines were assembled and tested in the UK and then shipped by sea to Australia. They are equipped with a rear triple axle with a hydropneumatic suspension and a load distribution system; in order to increase maneuverability, the rear axle has steerable wheels.
Other overseas customers include Denmark, Hungary, Ireland, Kuwait, New Zealand (same options as the UK), Norway, Slovakia, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates. There is also another unnamed Asian customer who has bought over 800 800 HX and TG Mil machines. Norway and Sweden buy cars from RMMV together.
In order to meet the needs of the German army UTF (Ungeschutze Transportrahraeuge - unprotected vehicle), RMMV is to supply 2,271 trucks worth 750 million euros. The first batch of 558 trucks was delivered in October 2018. The contract provides for a mixture of options 6x6 (НХ42М) with a lifting capacity of 5 tons and 8x8 (НХ44М) with a lifting capacity of 8 tons; they are equipped with standard unprotected cabins.
Specialized options
In addition to the usual options - cargo, dump and recovery - the HX series machines are used as tractors, towing semi-trailers, as well as for more specialized tasks. The UK, for example, is using the HX77 8x8 as a launch platform for MBDA Land Ceptor surface-to-air missiles, a Saab air defense radar chassis and a Rapidly Emplaced Bridge System. In January 2019, Sweden ordered 40 HX 8x8 trucks for its Patriot missile systems.
Swedish company BAE Systems Bofors is considering the 8x8 variant as a platform for its 155mm / 52 caliber Archer artillery system, which is currently based on the Volvo 6x6 ADT articulated platform. Germany uses earlier versions of this model range as tractors for the Patriot complex and the 8x8 variant as the chassis of the Roland air defense complex.
The HX series machines use common components to reduce operating costs; During the presentation of the RMMV company, it was stated that these trucks have the largest front axle load in their class, up to 11 tons. They can be supplied in RHD and LHD configurations, with front-wheel steering with hydraulic power assistance (10x10 also has rear-wheel steering). They feature a specially designed ladder frame chassis with leaf springs and an electronic architecture adapted for a military vehicle.
All vehicles are equipped with MAN diesel engines with an output of up to 650 hp. (500 kW) that meet the stringent emission requirements including Euro 6d. The transmission depends on the variant, it is either fully automatic or with automatic elements. Typically, the equipment includes a front-mounted winch and a crane with a lifting capacity of 8, 7 tons (when transporting goods).
Until recently, all customers received cars from the RMMV plant in Vienna, but there is the possibility of delivery in the form of machine kits for local assembly. The newest serial version is the HX2, but RMMV has begun work on the next generation, which is still called FTTF (Future Tactical Truck Family - a promising family of tactical trucks).
