Australia receives last of 3,580 Rheinmetall MAN medium and heavy tactical vehicles

 

One of the Australian Army's HX series truck. Photo c/o DoD.

The Australian subsidiary of German defense company Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV) and the  Australian Department of Defence marked the completion of the LAND 121 Phase 3B/5B program on 20 February 2025.

A Final Acceptance Ceremony was held at RMMV’s Military Vehicles Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) in Queensland marking the completion of the contract, as the company delivered 3,580 vehicles and 3,165 modules and protected cabs over a 10-year procurement program for the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

Trucks delivered are different variants of RMMV’s HX series of medium and heavy tactical trucks, which were built in Vienna, Austria, while final assembly was made at the Rheinmetall Defence Australia’s facility in Queensland, with support provided by interstate teams from Victoria.

The ADF originall ordered 2,536 trucks under LAND 121 Phae 3B in 2014, with the first truck HX series truck arriving in 2016 and entering service with the Australian Army on February 2017. 

Another batch of 1,044 medium and heavy trucks were ordered in 2018 under the LAND 121 Phase 5B. 

Australian variants of the HX trucks were composed of the HX-40M 4x4 tactical truck in tray, tray with carne, tipper; the HX-42M 6x6 medium recovery and HX-45M 10x10 heavy recovery variants;  the HX-77 8x8 heavy trucks with integrated load handing system, and the HX-81tank transporter tractor.

The completion of the procurement program will allow RMMV to shift to providing maintenance and sustainment support for the HX truck fleet, in partnership with their local and international partners and suppliers.

 RMMV’s HX series of medium and heavy tactical vehicles have been successfully used by various militaries including Germany and Australia, with other Asia-Pacific regional users including Japan, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

[1] Rheinmetall

[2] Australian National Audit Office