Germany Buys 6,500 Tactical Trucks For Possible Ground War

By Jim Morris, Warrior Vice President, News

Germany’s taking another step in its defense buildup, agreeing to buy 6,500 tactical military trucks from Rheinmetall. The deal is valued at up to $3.8 billion, with the first 250 trucks expected to be delivered this year.

The Bundeswehr negotiated a framework-contract, allowing it flexibility in buying the UTF 5t and UTF 15t all-terrain trucks for seven years. Rheinmetall will also introduce a new truck, the 4×4 UTF 3.5t. They are all part of the company’s HX family of tactical military trucks, which went into production in 2005.

It’s Rheinmetall’s biggest military truck deal ever.

“The extremely short period of four months from the invitation to tender to the signature of the contract underlines once more that the turning point for procuring logistics trucks has been introduced,” said Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger.

In addition to the German army, HX trucks are also used by the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Hungary, Singapore, Slovenia, Denmark and Ukraine. About 20,000 of the vehicles are in use.

Ret. Gen. John Murray – Former Commanding General, Army Futures Command