Rheinmetall MAN HX trucks for Norway: The Norwegian military procurement agency, NDMA, formally transferred over a hundred new HX and TGS-mil military trucks to the Norwegian Army, the end customer on Tuesday (August 23, 2022). The ceremony took place at Sessvollmoen military base near Oslo in presence of company officials. Major General Øyvind Johan Kvalvik, Deputy Director of the NDMA, symbolically handed over the keys to the Norwegian Army’s second in command, Brigadier General Frode Ommundsen.
“We are proud to be able to transfer these state-of-the-art truck systems today to the most important people in the Norwegian armed forces – the troops!”, said Michael Wittlinger, chairman of the board of management of Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV).
Wittlinger said the company was confident that these vehicles would meet the requirements of Norway’s soldiers, providing them with the best-possible protection and support.
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The roots of the project go back to 2008, when a committee of Norwegian military officials drew up a list of specifications for new military logistic vehicles. Norway gave Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV) the nod in 2013.
In March 2014, NDMA and its Swedish opposite number, the FMV procurement agency in Stockholm, entered a framework agreement with RMMV to supply of military logistic vehicles, which runs through to 2025.
According to the German defence company, an additional agreement encompassing long-term service support from RMMV is also linked with the original framework agreement.
Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles is a joint venture owned by Rheinmetall AG, which holds a 51% stake in the company, and MAN Truck & Bus SE, which holds the remaining 49% share.
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Rheinmetall HX Truck.
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Rheinmetall MAN HX Trucks
The first shipments of trucks earmarked for Norway include 109 vehicles of various types: twenty-four 24 HX 8×8 trucks with hook lift systems; fifty-six TGS 6×6 heavy-duty tractor trailers; and twenty-nine TGS 4×4 and 6×6 vehicles.
Michael Wittlinger conceded that it was the RMMV’s most complex project to date.
“Our contract is not just with Norway but with Sweden, too. Owing to the special challenges of the Scandinavian operating environment, the technical specifications are very complex,” Wittlinger told the gathering.
He said the order encompasses 38 different truck configurations and trailer variants, making this a very multifaceted programme.
“Furthermore, each individual variant is subject to an extremely rigid and ambitious timetable for reaching milestones, with highly detailed lifecycle support documentation required at every stage. All of this goes way beyond the expectations of our other customers,” noted the top Rheinmetall executive.
Rheinmetall Kodiak combat engineering vehicle in action.
According to the company, new vehicles are intended first and foremost to improve the transport capacity of the Norwegian military’s logistics corps, while simultaneously expanding the operational capabilities of its armed forces.
“This new high-tech family of vehicles fully meets the comprehensive requirements of its military users. Some of these trucks feature an integrated armoured vehicle cab for protecting the crew from ballistic threats and shrapnel. Furthermore, they can also be equipped with state-of-the-art communication and command-and-control systems as well as remote-control weapon stations,” Rheinmetall said in a statement sent to Defence Star.
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