Rheinmetall has been commissioned by the Bundeswehr to supply heavy tractor units (SaZgM). The first unprotected Elefant 2 heavy-duty transporter is to be delivered as early as 2019, with a further 31 vehicles to follow in 2020. The order value of these first 32 vehicles amounts to around 28.5 million euros.
The framework agreement runs for seven years and includes an option for the delivery of a further 105 Elefant 2 vehicles, resulting in a total order value of 122 million euros for 137 vehicles.
The HX81 SaZgM Elefant 2 has an eight-cylinder diesel engine with 680 hp. This enables the highly mobile all-wheel-drive truck to reach a top speed of 89 km/h and climb gradients of 60 percent. The technically permissible gross train weight is 130 tons. The Elefant 2 has the same driver’s cab as the UTF family. The cab can be replaced with a protected version if required. The vehicle is also equipped with a double winch system from Rotzler, each with a tractive force of 20 tons. The HX81 Elefant 2 is a new addition to the Bundeswehr’s family of heavy-duty transporters (SLT). The unprotected Elefant 2 complements the protected Mammut heavy-duty transporter, which was also supplied by RMMV. The transportation of heavy combat vehicles is a key capability, particularly in view of Germany’s commitment to provide the NATO Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF 2023) in 2023.
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