Germany’s Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support has signed a framework contract with Rheinmetall to supply the German armed forces with up to 6,500 military trucks valued at a potential $3.8 billion. The German Parliament’s budget committee approved the procurement’s funding on June 26.
The contract, which Rheinmetall described as a “record order,” calls for the initial delivery of 610 trucks worth $334 million, with 250 vehicles for delivery in 2024. The contract provides the German armed forces with the flexibility to order additional units of existing Rheinmetall UTF 5t and UTF 15t unprotected trucks. It also calls for Rheinmetall to introduce the 4×4 UTF 3.5t featuring parts identical to other vehicles in the UTF family.
Armin Papperger, Rheinmetall’s CEO, welcomed the trust that the BAAINBw contract had accorded to the company’s products, saying that the short four-month period from tender invitation to contract signing again marks a “turning point for procuring logistic trucks.”
Michael Wittlinger, management chairman of Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles, said the contract contributes to “a fast fulfillment of demand by the logistic forces of the Bundeswehr.” The standardized features of the German armed forces’ vehicle procurement also “set a standard for interoperability and logistic efficiency” within the NATO alliance, he added.
In addition to Germany, the users of the Rheinmetall vehicles include the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Hungary, Singapore, Slovenia, Denmark and Ukraine.