Rheinmetall has secured 374 million Canadian dollars ($265.9 million) in contracts to provide Enhanced Recovery Capability (ERC) vehicles for the Canadian Army.
The project covers 85 of the Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicle (RMMV) HX 8×8 tactical military trucks, 24 armored cabs, related ancillary equipment, logistics, and in-service support for the military.
Acquisitions for these articles will run for five years, according to the Canadian Department of National Defence’s announcement.
Upon deployment, the ERC fleet will amplify support for vehicles needing tow and repair in the combat zone and other multinational engagements in the future. It will also be used for training purposes alongside field operations.
“Today’s announcement underscores our commitment to provide Canadian Armed Forces members with the state-of-the-art equipment and comprehensive in-service support they need, while ensuring long-term economic benefits for Canadians,” Innovation, Science & Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne remarked.
“The government aims to ensure this procurement will not only strengthen our national defence capabilities but also advance Canadian innovation in our world-class defence industry, create high-value jobs and contribute to economic growth across the country.”
‘Backbone of Logistics Forces’
Ottawa noted that the ERC integration is part of the government’s 2017 defense strategy to improve assistance for Canadian Armed Forces members stationed in the country and overseas.
Acquisition of the heavy logistics vehicle was launched in 2019. Five merchants were then qualified as suppliers in 2022. In April the bid for the systems was finalized, with Quebec-based Rheinmetall Canada Inc. selected as partner.
Rheinmetall Canada CEO and President Pietro Mazzei explained that the HX truck “is an extraordinary system which will meet Canada’s needs for decades to come,” further saying that “Canada is now joining an elite group of operators of the HX recovery platform and will benefit from other nations’ experience with the system.”
Concurrently, RMMV CEO Michael Wittlinger welcomed the Canadian Armed Forces as the latest member of the HX user group: “With the heavy recovery vehicle, the HX fleet is now prominently represented on the North American continent for the first time,” he stated. “Our mission-proven vehicle family is increasingly becoming the backbone of the logistics forces of NATO and allied nations.”
Rheinmetall’s HX 8×8 Vehicle
The RMMV HX measures 10 meters (34 feet) long and has a payload capacity of up to 17,000 kilograms (37,400 pounds).
It is powered by a 440-horsepower MAN Euro 4 diesel engine with a 400-liter capacity and a ZF 12-forward automated manual transmission for a speed of 100 kilometers (62 miles) per hour and a range of 800 kilometers (497 miles).