The British Army has officially received its first batch of 20 advanced support trucks as part of a £282 million contract aimed at enhancing military logistics.
This delivery is the beginning of a wider effort to improve the Army’s operational capability, with 500 multipurpose vehicles expected to be rolled out by 2025.
These new trucks, from the HX family by Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles, are specially designed for military operations. They offer enhanced protection to ensure the safety of personnel during missions.
The procurement of these vehicles is part of a rapid, seven-month acquisition process coordinated by Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), Army Headquarters, and the Field Army.
Brigadier Matt Wilkinson from DE&S commended the joint effort, stating, “The joint team across Army Headquarters, Field Army, DE&S and our industry partners have risen to the challenge of rapidly delivering capability to meet Defence requirements.”
The first 20 vehicles were delivered to the 7 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps at Dalton Barracks, where soldiers will begin training to operate the new fleet.
A further 40 trucks will be used for training purposes before April 2025, with all 500 vehicles expected to be fully operational by September 2025.
Colonel Andy Elliott, HQ Field Army, noted the significance of the new vehicles in addressing the Army’s logistical needs, highlighting their role in enhancing the Army’s capacity to sustain large-scale operations.
“These critical vehicles to begin to close the gap in the logistic lift capacity required to deliver and sustain war fighting at scale,” he said.
The introduction of these trucks comes at a time when the British Army is facing growing commitments, including participation in Operation MOBILISE and support for NATO’s New Force Model.
Rebecca Richards, Managing Director of RMMV-UK, praised the collaboration between Rheinmetall and the Ministry of Defence, calling it a “remarkable achievement” and a model for future NATO procurement initiatives.
