The British Army will acquire 500 new HX logistics trucks from Rheinmetall MAN. Credit: UK DE&S

The first of an eventual 500 multipurpose Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicle trucks have been delivered to the British Army, a fleet that will form the backbone of the service’s logistics capability in the years ahead.

Announcing the delivery in a social media post, the UK Ministry of Defence’s Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) said that 20 HX trucks had been handed over to the British Army, acquired under the wider £282m ($356.9m) contract.

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The vehicles will allow troops to transport essentials such as ammunition, food, water, and support materiel, to operational locations.

By no means a headline acquisition, the procurement of the new multipurpose trucks is a critical part of the British Army’s force modernisation plans, which is in the early stages of a programme to deliver Boxer mechanised infantry vehicles, Ajax infantry fighting vehicles, Challenger 3 main battle tank, and the Archer and RCH 155mm mobile artillery systems.

Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles is a joint venture company between German companies MAN and Rheinmetall, providing militarised logistics vehicles for the global defence market.

British Army returns to HX family

Announced by the previous Conservative government in February 2024, the trucks are to be sourced from the HX family of platforms and delivered under the Rapid Acquisition Project, intended to deliver capabilities faster that through traditional procurements.

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The UK government said the platforms have “several capability improvements” compared to those already in service, including an increased payload, a reduced turning circle, an underrun protection safety feature and a more efficient EURO 5 engine.

Rheinmetall MAN’s HX family of trucks are operated by a number of European militaries, as well as Australia. Credit: Rheinmetall

The acquisition took seven months from conception, through approvals to contract award and first delivery. In addition, the UK stated the rapid procurement came “at an essential time”, as the British Army will face increased commitments through Operation Mobilise and its offer to the Nato New Force Model.

Previous deliveries of HX trucks to the British Armed Forces started in 2007 and more than 7,500 were introduced into service by 2013. The UK acquired the vehicles to replace the old Leyland and Bedford trucks, and the Foden recovery vehicles.

The HX family are operated by the UK, Australia, Germany, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.