The British Army has taken delivery of the first 20 Rheinmetall HX Palletised Load System (HX PLS) 8×8 trucks, part of a £282 million contract to enhance its logistic capabilities. The remaining 480 vehicles are set to be delivered by September 2025.
The trucks, produced by Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicle (RMMV), were received at the UK Ministry of Defence’s Ashchurch depot in Gloucestershire before being assigned to 7 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps at Dalton Barracks. This delivery marks a significant step forward in modernizing the Field Army’s logistics fleet.
Swift Procurement and Deployment
The contract, awarded in February 2023, was executed under a rapid acquisition framework. Within seven months of signing, Rheinmetall began production, addressing the British Army’s urgent need for upgraded logistics vehicles.
Training on the new fleet is now underway at Dalton Barracks, with an additional 40 vehicles set aside for training purposes before April 2025. All 500 vehicles are expected to be fully operational across the Field Army by September 2025.
Advanced Capabilities
The HX PLS trucks bring enhanced efficiency and safety to military logistics. With the ability to load and unload up to 16.5 tonnes of equipment without the operator leaving the cabin, the vehicles provide faster and more secure transport solutions.
Widely adopted by 21 countries, including Germany, Sweden, and Australia, over 20,000 HX trucks are currently in global service, underscoring their reliability and NATO interoperability.
Strategic Importance for the British Army
Colonel Andy Elliott of HQ Field Army emphasized the importance of this acquisition:
“Fielding of these vehicles [will] begin to close the gap in the logistic lift capacity required to deliver and sustain war fighting at scale. Delivering capability at pace challenges procurement processes and policies, and lessons from this project can be applied to streamline future acquisitions, vital as the Army seeks to double lethality by 2027.”
Global Demand for HX Trucks
The HX platform continues to see robust international demand. In November, Rheinmetall secured a C$325 million (£196 million) contract to provide 85 8×8 HX heavy recovery vehicles to the Canadian Armed Forces under the Enhanced Recovery Capability (ERC) programme. Sweden, Germany, and other NATO allies have also placed significant orders for the versatile platform.
This delivery represents a major milestone in the British Army’s modernization programme, equipping its forces with cutting-edge logistics vehicles to ensure readiness for future operational challenges.
