Rheinmetall, the largest supplier of defence vehicles and prime contractor to the Australian Defence Force (ADF), has expanded its maintenance capabilities in the Northern Territory and Queensland.
Joern Buelter, general manager for logistics vehicles at Rheinmetall Defence Australia, said the organisation provided training on the introduction and maintenance of the Medium Heavy Capability (MHC) in collaboration with partner RGM Maintenance.
"Rheinmetall Defence Australia's training program ensures that RGM's certification levels are equivalent to those achieved by Australian Army personnel at Robertson Barracks in the Northern Territory on Rheinmetall MAN vehicles in the HX Truck fleet.
This partnership reflects the strong commitment to developing regional maintenance capabilities, as outlined in the recent Defence Strategy Review (DSR) on force posture in Northern Australia.
The growing fleet in the Northern Territory and North Queensland has led Rheinmetall to provide official OEM training on HX logistics vehicle maintenance to RGM Maintenance staff from Darwin, Townsville and Rockhampton, strengthening support capability in the north.", Buelter said.
Buelter said RGM first joined Rheinmetall in 2022, with the aim of providing secure jobs, training and sovereign industrial capacity in regional Australia.
"RGM is the only commercial repair organization to which Rheinmetall has granted this certification and is the reference OEM repairer in the area.
This training consolidates the long-standing partnership between Rheinmetall and RGM Maintenance to ensure the maintenance of HX vehicles in the region.
Responding to the evolving needs of the Australian Defence Force is an ongoing commitment for Rheinmetall. We have established maintenance supports in Queensland (Townsville and Rockhampton), the Northern Territory and Western Australia.
Our maintenance headquarters in Ipswich, at the Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence, ensures that the needs of Australia and its allies are fully met.", added Buelter.
In February, Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles Australia celebrated achieving final acceptance of the LAND 121 3B/5B program, marking the on-time and on-budget delivery of over 3.000 HX vehicles and 3.000 modules. The HX truck is one of the Australian Army’s key operational assets, providing unrivalled capabilities for the Australian Defence Force.
The vehicle, equipped with a six-cylinder in-line diesel engine and weighing more than 41.000 kilograms, is capable of operating at temperatures between -32°C and +49°C and can cross watercourses over 1,2 meters deep. Capabilities include: integrated and automated load handling system, crane, container transport, recovery, tractor, tanker, tipper, systems transport and artillery support.
