Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles completes handover of HX 8×8 Heavy Recovery Vehicles to New Zealand Defence Force
8 December 2021 – Rheinmetall is pleased to announce
the official handover of three HX 8×8 Heavy Recovery Vehicles to the New
Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) at an official ceremony on November 25th 2021 at
the Trentham Military Camp in Wellington, New Zealand.
Colonel Ben Bagley, Director of Land Domain for NZDF attended the ceremony to
accept handover of the vehicles from Marty Roelofs, New Zealand Manager at
Rheinmetall.
Mr Gary Stewart, Managing Director Rheinmetall Defence Australia, had planned
to personally attend this ceremony to mark its importance however was hampered
by COVID travel restrictions.
“Although it is very disappointing not
to be back in New Zealand for this important event marking the joint
achievement of the handover of the HX 8×8 Heavy Recovery Vehicles, we are still
very proud of this milestone,” Mr. Stewart said.
“The HX 8×8 Heavy Recovery Vehicle is
another example of our commitment to providing sustainable design, development
and manufacturing that delivers world leading products and services to the
NZDF.”
“Delivery of this enhanced recovery
capability, complementing the already delivered Medium-heavy Operational Vehicles
fleet, in the midst of global COVID challenges is a testament to the
relationship between Rheinmetall and the NZDF.”
The successful delivery of the vehicles to the NZDF provides the New Zealand
Army with important new capabilities, with the HX 8×8 Heavy Recovery Vehicles
having enhanced recovery and mobility capabilities specifically developed to
meet the current and future operational needs of the NZDF.
The purchase of the HX 8×8 adds to the in-service medium and heavy operational
vehicle fleet with NZDF. The Medium-heavy Operational Vehicles (MHOV) fleet
which was supplied by Rheinmetall has had significant use already with NZDF, in
training, operations and disaster relief both in New Zealand and offshore.
The HX 8×8 Heavy Recovery Vehicles delivered to the NZDF are the first in the
world to use the Integrated Armoured Swap Cabin which allows easy configuration
of the vehicles to suit the operational need. Rheinmetall will also provide a
dedicated training team to conduct initial training on the vehicle with the
NZDF.
At just 2.55 metres wide, the HX 8×8 Heavy Recovery Vehicle allows greater
accessibility and operates exceptionally in difficult terrain with an ability
to cross ditches of 1.4 metres wide and cross flooded areas of 1.5 metres in
depth, as well as scale gradients of up to 60 per cent and side slopes of 30
per cent.
The HX 8×8 Heavy Recovery Vehicle is also able to operate in a range of
radically different environments, operating in cold conditions as low as -32°C
and in hot conditions all the way up to 49°C.
Photos courtesy Rheinmetall