Rheinmetall is supplying Elephant heavy-duty transporters to the Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr has placed another order with Rheinmetall for heavy tractor units, securing 56 additional Elefant 2 heavy-duty transporters. Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV) is scheduled to deliver these vehicles in 2026 and 2027, with the contract valued at approximately 60.5 million EUR gross.
This order follows an initial framework contract for the supply of up to 137 vehicles, under which the Bundeswehr had ordered the first 32 Elefant 2 units. The framework contract, set to span seven years, also included options for further Elefant 2 vehicles, amounting to a total contract value of 122 million EUR gross, with deliveries expected by early 2025. Due to an increased demand, the framework contract has now been extended to incorporate the additional 56 units.
The HX81 Elefant 2 is powered by an eight-cylinder diesel engine generating 680 hp, which allows the highly manoeuvrable four-wheel-drive truck to reach a top speed of 89 km/h and tackle gradients of up to 60 percent. It boasts a technically permissible gross combination weight of 135 tonnes and shares the same driver’s cabin as the UTF family. The vehicle is equipped with a twin-winch system from Rotzler, each capable of pulling 20 tonnes.
The addition of the HX81 Elefant 2 marks a significant enhancement to the Bundeswehr’s heavy-lift transport fleet. This unarmoured vehicle complements the armoured heavy-lift transporter Mammut, also provided by RMMV. The capability to transport heavy combat vehicles holds particular importance, considering Germany’s pivotal role as a logistical hub in NATO’s collective defense operations.
