Rheinmetall Man Vehicle HX 8×8 multipurpose excavator: German defence giant Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV) has unveiled a new high-mobility multipurpose excavator vehicle based on the HX 8×8 vehicle in cooperation with Slovakian defence company CSM Industry.
“The new variant derives from Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles’ tried-and-tested family of logistic vehicles, which are in service worldwide. It carries an UDS 214 excavator build-on, a proven system made by the crane and excavator maker CSM based in Tisovec, Slovakia. The HX 8×8 Excavator is specially designed for combat engineer operations and disaster relief missions,” Rheinmetall said on Friday.
According to the company, the high mobility excavator is able to pivot 360 degrees, has an extendable telescopic arm that attains a length of up 14.60 metres and it can use various tools: besides the excavator shovel, a hook or hydraulic drum cutter are possible.
The company said this universally deployable device can lift loads of up to 7.5 tons and can thus serve as an auxiliary crane.
The excavator operator’s cab can be protected in accordance with common STANAG levels and fitted with a ventilation system.
READ: DRDO tests long range Pinaka rockets with area denial munition, new fuse
Rheinmetall said like other RMMV HX family vehicles, the HX 8×8 is a military off-the-shelf vehicle designed to withstand the most gruelling military conditions, assuring excellent mobility even in the toughest terrain. The basic version of the vehicle weighs 28 tons.
Rheinmetall Man Vehicle RMMV UTF.
READ: Elbit Systems, Roboteam launch ROOK unmanned vehicle
Rheinmetall’s MAN D2676 diesel engine generates an output of 387 kW or 540 hp, giving the HX 8×8 a top speed of 90 km/h. The vehicle can handle inclines of 60 percent and wade through water up to 1.5 metres deep.
Also, the HX 8×8 can be equipped with Rheinmetall’s protected Integrated Armoured Cabin (IAC) or prepared for its optional use. The vehicle can also be fitted with a remotely operated weapon station for self-defence.
“Belonging to the HX family – of which more than 16,000 vehicles are now in service worldwide – offers advantages with respect to maintenance, repairs and training. Numerous NATO nations already own HX family trucks, resulting in synergy effects particularly during multinational operations,” said the German defence company.
The HX 8×8 Excavator is an example of Rheinmetall cooperation with European and other international partners. Nor is this limited to technical teamwork. By cooperating with Rheinmetall, CSM stands to benefit from access to new export markets.
READ: Rheinmetall, Thales bag contract to maintain Tiger helicopter simulators
Rheinmetall RMMV HX 10×10 vehicle.
The Düsseldorf-based technology company says it has offered Slovakia additional options for cooperating with local industry.
One possibility would be the production of infantry fighting vehicles in the NATO country. This relates to an offer to Slovakia by Hungary to produce the state-of-the-art Lynx KF41 family of tracked armoured vehicles developed by Rheinmetall. The Lynx family is another choice not only on account of its performance parameters, it said.
It also sets a new standard when it comes to defence cooperation between NATO member states and other partner nations, said the company.
READ: Germany’s Hensoldt offers new radar jammer Kalaetron Attack
Hungary opted to procure the Lynx in 2021, with a large share of the vehicles to be manufactured in Hungary in cooperation with Rheinmetall.
Rheinmetall said if neighboring Slovakia, also a NATO member, choses the Lynx, a large share of its new fleet of vehicles would also be produced locally, meaning that it would benefit from far-reaching cooperation in the defence technology domain, resulting in greater value added as well as safeguarding and expanding the country’s defence technology capabilities.
READ: IAI-ST Engineering win Estonia order for Blue Spear missiles
