The German Bundeswehr has placed a major order with Rheinmetall for more than 1,000 logistics vehicles to strengthen its land mobility and sustainment capacity, according to a press release.
The contract is valued at approximately €770 million and includes 963 swap-body vehicles, some with protected driver cabins, as well as 425 unprotected transport vehicles (UTVs) in both 4×4 and 8×8 configurations. The order was placed under an existing framework agreement signed in July 2024 and is scheduled for delivery before the end of 2025.
“As a reliable partner of the Bundeswehr, we are delighted to be delivering additional vehicles and thus contributing to the mobility and operational readiness of the armed forces,” said André Barthel, Chairman of the Board of Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles GmbH.
The 2024 framework agreement allows the Bundeswehr to order up to 6,500 UTVs over a seven-year period, with a total potential value of €3.5 billion. It includes the newly introduced 4×4 UTV 3.5-tonne variant, designed for parts commonality across the UTV fleet.
The UTV family is based on Rheinmetall’s HX military vehicle platform, which the Bundeswehr has used extensively since 2017. To date, around 7,000 HX vehicles have been delivered to Germany, including variants for swap-body transport and 70-tonne semi-trailer operations.
Rheinmetall said the global presence of the HX family provides advantages for interoperability and logistics, especially during multinational deployments. Current users of HX vehicles include the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Hungary, Singapore, Slovenia, Denmark and Ukraine.
More than 20,000 HX trucks are in service worldwide.
Image by ‘UndateableOne’, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Looks like our German allies are getting serious. Would like to see our government ordering some equipment.
Indeed. Would be interesting to see a list of what has been ordered since Labour came to power just over a year ago. I doubt it would be a long one!
53 Jackal E.
3 secret ISTAR Drones.
Unsure if the 14 Archer were post or pre.
The archers were BW era that were re announced so many times I’ve lost track.
As many have posted, it’s a mess. Orbat, politics, deals, manufacturing capacity, numbers, types, budget all need to be sorted and aligned. Straightforward items like Jackals and MLRS are on order. They need to decide on the Warrior successor and fix the Boxer build rate problem ( esp RCH) and / or review options like Patria. I think we will see orders in the autumn.
They can’t be that serious, they don’t have any aircraft carriers or SSNs /s
You could indeed write it down. Do you have spare postage stamp?
It appears to be amazingly little offensive kit.
The exercise in procrastination has reached perfection!
Labour have no interest in defence, we know this.
The majority of inbound kit has been in the pipeline for years.
I have said before Daniele, we will know that a party is serious about defence when they announce an increase in the headcount of all three services. Till then it’s all hot air.
100% this. I’ve argued with some people who said we don’t need more troops. Due to quality over quantity, we’re in NATO, warfare has changed due to drones bla bla.
1.) Having more troops doesn’t mean the quality goes down if done right
2.) So? The more military personnel NATO has the less likely an attack will occur.
3.) Drones are fantastic but don’t hold territory. You still need troops to control territory
Rant over.
100% Spot on. You need numbers to make a presence and quanity has its own quality if done right! UK Forces need to go up by at least 30% to make them worth while in the end and a majoe expansion of our reserve forces too that can provide a real boost to the full time numbers.
Hi Daniele, have you seen the recent Army Operational Framework diagram that’s doing the rounds on X ?
It indicates more recent thinking, there are a few notable changes inc an additional DRS (2 DRS) brigade to be part of 1 Div (plus 4x,7x and 16x) and a second reserve brigade to be formed, only 2 Armoured Brigades in 3 Div still though, 3 still retains 1 DRS, so I’m sure no uplift in CH3 despite an easy win with their low cost.
Whilst the Diagram is WIP, If Wavell and the new Orbat is close to being established we could see decisions finally being made on the necessary procurements.
Morning John.
No, I hadn’t, I’ll look.
It sounds little different to now then, as 11 Brigade is supposed to be a DRS Light.
Any increase in CS CSS? Nope.
19 Brigade is an unwieldy mass, assume the6ve split the Battalions in it into this new reserve Brigade.
Utter window dressing.
I’ll need to see it though.
There wasn’t much detail beyond force groupings and brigades, I assume an actual Orbat will follow later this year alongside the equipment plan, there was a few Orbat diagrams circulating from well known commentators, but these were based on the rumours and light on detail.
Even with new structures being planned, it could all be pointless if the budget deficit is as bad as being reported (somehow more than doubled the £22bn claim from entering Government), it’s hard to see how there wouldn’t be more cuts to defence now as it’s usually top of the list, fixing issues any time soon with new procurement could be a distant dream, Warrior and FV432 extended to 2130.
It unlikely that the equipment plan will come out before the budget due to the implications it will have, with it being a 10 year plan perhaps it’ll have some better news for the second half of the plan, although several production lines will be gone by then without new orders.
Ha!
John. I was detailing a response as you were.
See below.
Hi John.
Ok, I’ve seen it.
1 DRSB remains loses parts. Gains zilch.
Ares in 12 and 20.
3 MBT Regs as current, so 2,1 split if DRSB remains.
Boxer moves to 7 Mech Bde.
4 Bde hopefully goes Light Mech.
BCT nonsense American copying goes and “Brigade” returns.
A new 2 DRSB as you say. Using what??? The Artilery available is already allocated elsewhere. The graphic I saw sees 3 RHA leave DRSB and 4 RA leave 7 Bde. Paper thin. Where is the Bdes ISTAR element? Like 5 RA in DRSB.
Goes without saying still no CSS exists for 4 Bde, 2 DRSB, or the current 1 DRSB beyond 6 REME.
I was more interested in the forward deployed forces as they called them.
So the LSOF.
77 Bde and the ASOB are as is, with their regionally allocated Ranger Battalions.
But, according to the graphic I saw, another Light Recc Strike Bde is joining them using what looks like, from the graphic, some sort of CAV or other.
This bit intrigues me the most, and assume it is 11 Brigade as previously reported in new role.
So 3 Division remains a manoeuvre Bde down.
4 Bde still has no regular CS CSS.
1 DRSB likewise save 6 REME.
And another paper 2 DRSB forms.
It’s hardly groundbreaking is it? But if there are no more personnel being added, and thousands more CS CSS are what the Army needs almost above all else, what could they do?
The coverage of their current plans for combat vehicles is well publicised first off, and second logistics is still important last I looked.
If you mean the Germans plans – I agree that buying a large number of all terrain trucks is very useful. Logistics and enablers are key.
I was commenting on the UK’s announcements under this government…..we may be heading to 5% but it certainly isn’t being spent on new front line kit orders….
Sorry, I thought you were commenting on the German order and rumoured purchase list, agree with you on the UK’s slow movement.
Hi SB I am a Cynic / Realist and we all know that since 2022 we have had 3 PMs, 3 Defence Secretary’s, no defence cuts reversed, lots of kit given to Ukraine and just 14 2nd hand SPGs to replace anything. The only other announcement was a rejig of the 27 F35s which were already in equipment plan, but in cash terms that was actually a defence cut ! That’s the pure Cynic bit.
However the wheels of British Government turn very slowly, consult, consider, review and produce an SDR which sets out intent but zero actual action. We have announced that the upcoming Defence Investment Plan which is due in the Autumn which will set out the UK’s defence stall for the next 10 years. I’m not holding my breath of anything much coming out of that if it’s left purely to UK internal politics in isolation, however there is now a rather large spanner in that idea, which gives me hope.
We have now committed to NATO to spend 3.5% on direct Defence + 1.5% on indirect Defence / Security, and we stick out like a sore thumb for inactivity as it is.
Starmer is no fool and he must realise that there is only so far that being nice to DT, NATO and EU will him you away with things ! Any UK PM who has a brain cell would realise that ignoring the new external consequences will inevitably come with a very serious hit to our economy.
That’s pure Realpolitik where the practical necessity overrides the ideological vision.
Or in plain English we have winged it and got away with doing nothing for 3 years, we have been found out and if we don’t rectify it the Shit will really hit the fan
So simple choice for Mr Starmer is to either Spend the Money on Defence and try to boost GDP growth or DT / EU clobber us which is how to commit Political Seppuku !
That’s me being a Realist 🤞🏻 So I am optimistic, slightly but it’s a given that as much as they can get away with they will.
So it’s a goal to Germany & nil to HMG .
Didn’t we order some new Man 6×6 Tankers in the last year or so or were they rebuilds?
Defense post article dated June 25 reports UK army has received 217 new Rheinmetall trucks as part of an order for 500 platforms.
So Germany orders lots of shiny new logistical truck things, and the UK rents their vehicles from private contractors. Quality…
Mean while the UK orders some more consultants and paper clips. Why can ever other country pull its finger out and get on with things while we think about, talk about. And do NOTHING. A few service contracts a new think tank, lets pray war does not come in the next 3 years or we will be in very bad place. May be loosing might wake the MOD up a bit. CDS and those deluded lot banging on we are the best trained, etc, etc while our kit is mostly 40 years old or more, short on spares, short on ammo.
Trust me the German army is terrible with procurement it spent like 8 years choosing a helmet
Was it a nice helmet we ordered Ajax nearly 10 years ok, still not fully in service, they are faster at buying tanks IFV, Arty than use, we love doing nothing but talking about in nice groups
The politicians and the country constantly delude themselves about our armed forces, the NHS etc. Somehow we have one of the biggest economies in the world much of which is derived from the second most hated sector of society, bankers and stockbrokers. UK plc has become a bloody funny place and I fear we are just sitting at the top of a slide waiting for some nasty bully to push us down. Do the thickets in no. 11 not realise one was to stimulate a bit growth would be to buy lots of military hardware made in the UK? Typhoons for instance? And perhaps if we could build things a bit quicker so they are not obsolete the second they leave the factory gate?
A list of what has been ordered or initiated since labour came to power just over a year ago.
Not in any particular order.
£1.5 billion to establish at least six new UK factories producing munitions, energetics propellants, explosives and pyrotechnics. These factories will generate over 1,000 new skilled manufacturing jobs across the country.
Procurement of up to 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons, supporting an additional 800 jobs and expanding the UK’s strategic firepower.
This investment will bring total munitions spending to £6 billion during this Parliament.
The United Kingdom and Germany sign Trinity House Agreement: bilateral defence pact.
United Kingdom and Germany confirm they will work to develop a new long-range strike capability with a range of over 2,000 km.
Signed of new 50 year UK-Australia AUKUS treaty.
Purchase of 12 F-35A jets.
Rebuild / refurbishment of underground weapons vaults for nuclear bombs.
From 2027, the new British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme will reduce electricity costs by up to £40 per megawatt hour for over 7,000 electricity-intensive businesses in manufacturing sectors like automotive, aerospace and chemicals.
A 25% reduction for thousands of business.
Set a commitment to increase spending on defence to 2.5% of GDP from April 2027.
The increase in defence spending will be funded by reducing Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) from 0.5% to 0.3% of GNI and reinvesting it into defence.
Definition of defence spending updated to recognise security and intelligence agencies, UK will spend 2.6% of GDP on defence in 2027.
Continued support and furthering of interests in the SSN-AUKUS programme.
UK committed to build up to 12 SSN-AUKUS (nuclear-powered attack submarines) as part of AUKUS programme.
£15 billion investment set out for the UK’s sovereign nuclear warhead programme.
£1 billion to be invested in pioneering ‘Digital Targeting Web’ to spearhead battlefield engagements.
New CyberEM Command. Integrating cyber warfare and electromagnetic warfare capabilities. This command aims to unify and enhance the UK’s cyber and electromagnetic operations, addressing threats from both defensive and offensive perspectives.
Join NATO’s nuclear mission.
Strengthening the UK’s nuclear posture.
£5.5 billion budgeted for military accommodation in this Parliament. Tackling the poor state of forces accommodation across the country.
An additional £1.5 billion of funding for the repair and renewal of armed forces housing brings total to over £7 billion.
New Defence Consumer Charter to transform living conditions for military families after deal to bring 36,347 homes back into public ownership.
New funding will support urgent repairs and long-term renewal of military housing across the nations and regions of the UK.
Refreshed Lancaster House agreement through a new ‘Entente Industrielle’ 2.0 declaration making defence an engine for growth by deepening defence industrial cooperation with France, it will boost the UK’s own national resilience, ability to deter against attacks, and defend against threats, reinforcing the contribution to NATO.
Agreeing to build the next generation of deep strike, anti-ship missiles, replacing the lethally effective Storm Shadow.
Upgrading the existing Storm Shadow cruise missile production lines in Stevenage to bolster national stockpiles.
Government’s new Defence Industrial Joint Council (DIJC) today – bringing together Ministers and defence firms of all sizes with trade unions and investors.
Jointly developing the next generation of beyond visual range air-to-air missiles for the Royal Air Force’s fighter jets.
New partnership to develop high-tech radiofrequency weapons such as microwave weapons and jammers.
UK and France will expand its jointly deployable force.
Launch the Combined Joint Force. The “Combined Joint Force” will be able to command a Combined UK/French Corps for the first time – the highest scale of deployed ground forces from a command perspective – made up of thousands of troops and working side-by-side with NATO allies.
– see Press Release (fix the gap)
https ://www.gov.uk/government/news/lancaster-house-20-declaration-on-modernising-uk-french-defence-and-security-cooperation
UK-led DIAMOND initiative will improve NATO’s integrated air and missile defence by ensuring that the different air defence systems across the Alliance.
DE&S and Volitude accomplish successful tests of High-altitude balloons for Armed Forces to enhance national security.
The balloons can operate at altitudes between 60,000 and 80,000 feet above the Earth, conduct intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions: DE&S.
United Kingdom leads the push to sell the Eurofighter to Turkey.
Türkiye and the United Kingdom have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) related to the procurement of Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft.
£5 billion investment in drone and laser weapon technology.
£2 billion is new funding following the Government‘s uplift in defence spending to 2.5% of GDP from 2027.
British government awards a contract to BAE Systems to produce artillery barrels for Ukraine January 2025.
UK launches ACP Tranche 2 ‘loyal wingman’ programme.
UK MoD seeks funding for StormBreaker Bombs – SPEAR 3 Delays.
UK Gov. approves £204.6 million of funding for new radar for RAF Eurofighter Typhoon. Investment of will go into the production and integration of the ECRS Mk2 radar following the conclusion of flight trials earlier this year.
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has launched the next phase of its additive manufacturing (AM) accelerator program Project TAMPA.
5 year £1.5 billion contract extension with British defence firm QinetiQ provides test, trial, training and evaluation of defence equipment and capabilities at 16 Ministry of Defence sites. This includes missile firings, test pilot training and delivering live-threat scenarios.
£1.6 billion equipment contract to support British Defence jobs and boost Army readiness.
The 5 year £1.6 billion contract extension with British defence firm Babcock will cover vital military assets including Challenger 2 tanks, 105mm artillery guns and Trojan armoured vehicles.
… there’s more if you would care to look.
June 2025 – 500 MAN trucks bought under a £282m contract.
UK Army has over 6,600 MAN trucks designated as Logistics Support Vehicles (LSV).
The Enhanced Pallet Load System (EPLS MK3) conversion is at the heart of a £72 million contract the MoD awarded to Babcock and MAN Truck and Bus (MTB) to upgrade a number of the Army’s current fleet of 15T Support Vehicle platforms, vital to keeping the Army and its kit on the move.
The Army will have a total of 559 EPLS vehicles in the UK fleet, including 382 MAN HX77 EPLS MK 3 Conversions.
And still labour are a bunch of clowns who will be destroyed at the next election with any luck
🤡
Very much so.
Sadly the previous clowns were hopeless too.
Thus we have the British political class.
Only interested in their next votes and their image.
Nice list of agreements.
The factories are not new, I believe that
they already exist, but expansion is of course good.
12 F35A is only new insofar as they changed the type. The 27 batch 2 have been budgeted for years. Actually saves money short term.
The “new” Cyber Command. 😀 Please, give us the details of that and how it is “new.” CEMAG( JCG ) already exists within Strat Com. The NCF already exists within StratCom ( known as PAGC in its flimsy cover name.)
I await the details. I can tell you about the other existing Cyber elements we have as well that exist but will be rebranded as new.
The 7k weapons is good. I suspect it’ll be spun as they were previously described as missiles. I suspect many will be Drones but this way it bumps the number up.
Let’s see what’s actually ordered beyond the headlines.
15 billion on a warhead program is insanity if that’s just the warheads. That will surely be across the AWE including MPF and other new build at Aldermaston, and has been in progress for years. Not since Labour came in.
Refurbing the HAS Vaults at Marham re F35A purchase.
What is the source for that? They will carry USB51 stored in Lakenheath up the road. Good if the vaults are being refurbished though.
500 trucks, yes add them to the 53 Jackal E.
Wonderful!
A list of treaties, programs, many which already existed with little uplift in any conventional area of defence, either in numbers of equipment or personnel.
Do come back with details of the “new” Cyber Command though. Even the staff at StratCom were laughing on X a while back asking if HMG know that’s already an operational task.
I asked HMG myself via a FOIA and was fobbed off on Cyber before this “new” Command, as I was aware of much of the existing components of our current tri service capability and was interested to see how the differing commands clashed.
Which is why I think they’ve been merged.
Tidies it all up on their wiring diagrams.
And are now “new”