Rheinmetall opens maintenance facilities to support ADF

RDA has expanded its HX family of tactical military truck maintenance capabilities to Northern Australia. (MAN Trucks)

Rheinmetall Defence Australia (RDA) has opened maintenance facilities in Australia to support its range of HX tactical military trucks operated by the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

RDA said on 28 April that it has expanded its maintenance capabilities to Northern Territory and Queensland. The company also partnered with RGM Maintenance to provide Medium Heavy Capability (MHC) Introduction and Maintenance training to RGM personnel, RDA added.

Joern Buelter, RDA's general manager logistic vehicles, said, “Rheinmetall Defence Australia's training programme ensures that RGM's certification levels are the same as those performed by Australian Army personnel at Robertson Barracks in the Northern Territory on Rheinmetall MAN vehicles across the HX truck fleet.”

“The growing fleet in Northern Territory and northern Queensland means that Rheinmetall has delivered original equipment manufacturer (OEM) HX logistic vehicle maintenance training to RGM Maintenance personnel from Darwin, Townsville, and Rockhampton, strengthening sustainment capability across the north,” Buelter added.

According to Buelter, RGM Maintenance is the only trade repair organisation that RDA has provided the maintenance training to. He called RGM the “in-region OEM repairer of choice”.

Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles Australia (RMMVA) announced the completion of delivery of its HX range of trucks in February under the Australian Department of Defence's (DoD's) Land 121 Phase 3B/5B programme. The programme is aimed to acquire medium and heavy field vehicles, modules and trailers, and the associated support systems.

Rheinmetall started the delivery of the HX trucks to the ADF in April 2016.