The Canadian government has Rheinmetall a major contract to supply 85 heavy recovery vehicles to the Canadian Armed Forces as part of the Enhanced Recovery Capability (ERC) project. The purchase contract, worth around 215 million euros, has a term of five years and includes vehicles, recovery equipment and other modifications – the vehicles will be produced at the Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles in Vienna.
The first deliveries are scheduled for 2027. Rheinmetall was also awarded a supplementary multi-year in-service support contract worth around 20 million euros.
As prime contractor, German defense manufacturer Rheinmetall Canada will replace the Canadian Armed Forces’ existing fleet of recovery vehicles with 85 HX 8×8 vehicles, each equipped with a heavy towing and recovery module, according to official information. According to a press release, “This will provide the Canadian Armed Forces with enhanced capabilities to effectively recover and tow their latest generation of heavier armored and logistic vehicles. The new HX heavy recovery vehicles also provide additional capabilities, such as an integrated slewing crane that enables container handling and other crane operations.”
Rheinmetall HX: a field-tested flagship
Developed specifically for military end users, the HX is characterized by high mobility, reliability and durability and also offers a high level of protection, significantly increasing the survivability of soldiers and mission success. The vehicle is currently in service with armed forces in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Slovenia, Singapore and Japan – the deployment scenarios range from domestic disaster relief and humanitarian support to combat operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Mali, for example. The ERC project team is led by Rheinmetall Canada and supported by German-Austrian vehicle manufacturer Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles, Miller Industries Towing Equipment, a US-based provider of towing and recovery equipment, and Rotzler Holding, a manufacturer of hydraulic winches and winch systems based in Germany with operations in Canada. https://militaeraktuell.at/generalleutnant-hofbauer-wir-machen-tempo/ “Together, this strong team will provide a sophisticated, world-class recovery solution that will enable the Canadian Forces to fulfill their missions in support of Canada’s national interests. This vehicle is an exceptional system that will serve Canada’s needs for decades to come. In addition, Canada now joins an elite group of operators of the HX recovery platform and will benefit from other nations’ experience with the system,” said Pietro Mazzei, President and CEO of Rheinmetall Canada. “We are very grateful to welcome Canada as another member of the HX user group,” says Michael Wittlinger, CEO of Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles. “With this heavy-duty recovery vehicle, the HX fleet is now prominently represented on the North American continent for the first time. Our mission-proven vehicle family is thus increasingly becoming the backbone for the logistics units of NATO countries and their allies.”
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