German army receiving transporters

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KIEL, Germany, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles has received an order from the German army worth $16 million for 12 HX 81 protected heavy equipment transporter vehicles.

The vehicles, for transporting tracked and wheeled vehicles, containers and heavy equipment, will feature a Euro 5 V8 engine. Its cab will hold four soldiers and provide protection against ballistic, land mine and improvised explosive device threats.

Rheinmetall said the HX 81 has two cable winches with a pulling force of more than 20 tons each for loading and unloading equipment and a self-recovery winch with a traction force of more than 8 tons.

The system consists of a tractor from RMMV and low bed semi-trailers for carrying various payloads. The German army is buying the trailers separately, Rheinmetall said.

With a carrying capacity of more than 70 tons, the HX 81 system can carry the military's newest main battle tank, the Leopard 2A7.

Delivery of the 12 transporters, as well as tools and spare parts, will be completed in 2013.