Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles has announced the official handover of three HX 8×8 Heavy Recovery Vehicles to the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) at an official ceremony on 25 November 2021 at the Trentham Military Camp in Wellington, New Zealand. The 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, Rheinmetall writes.
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 configuration of the vehicles in accordance with operational needs. 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 features the 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 vehicles are able to operate in a range of different environments, operating in cold conditions as low as -32°C and in hot conditions all the way up to 49°C.
JH
