The Dutch Ministry of Defense on behalf of the Ukraine Task Force with the Ede-based subsidiary of RheinmetallRheinmetall Defence Nederland, for the delivery of 20 vehicles from the Hermelin family of small vehicles.
The variants ordered are manned and unmanned ground vehicles. These are to be delivered to the Ukrainian armed forces (-> current news from the war in Ukraine) in order to strengthen their ability to evacuate the wounded near the front line. The vehicles are to be delivered by the first quarter of 2026.
As part of this agreement, cooperation was also agreed with other Dutch companies such as DEMCON Defense & Security Systems and Abiom Communication Systems. The aim is to join forces and achieve synergy effects. “We are grateful for the trust placed in Rheinmetall’s capabilities. Hermelin is an innovative and powerful solution for the modern battlefield,” explains Coen van Leeuwen, CEO of Rheinmetall Defense Nederland.
The Hermelin family of lightweight hybrid vehicles combines tactical transportation with a mobile energy source (microgrid). Operational creativity is at the heart of the vehicles’ design. Thanks to their characteristics, Hermelin vehicles can act as an effective combat force multiplier. The vehicles can also be operated remotely and are prepared for autonomous operation.
The vehicle family currently consists of an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), a side-by-side buggy and a quad. Various 4×4 and 6×6 variants are available. All vehicles are based on the same diesel-electric hybrid drivetrain and the same basic platform. This ensures modularity between the different variants. Thanks to the hybrid technology, up to one tonne of payload, a range of more than 1,000 kilometers and a top speed of 90 km/h are possible, depending on the vehicle configuration. Up to four Hermelin vehicles can be transported with transport helicopters such as the CH-47 or CH-53.
As Rheinmetall noted in a press release, this order marks “the first significant milestone for the Hermelin vehicle family”. The company also announced that support from the Ukrainian armed forces and the defense industry in the Netherlands will strengthen the vehicle family.
Here for further reports about Rheinmetall and here to further reports on the Dutch armed forces.
