The UK Ministry of Defence has temporarily suspended the use of part of its fleet of new tactical support trucks, manufactured by Rheinmetall MAN, after mechanical failures were detected in several units. The measure affects the MAN Military Support Vehicles operated by the British Armed Forces in various configurations.
In response to an inquiry from the Joint Forces portal, a spokesperson for the UK Defence Ministry stated: “The safety and wellbeing of our personnel are our top priority. A number of MAN military support vehicles have been affected by a mechanical failure. On the recommendation of the Defence Safety Authority, we have suspended the use of the vehicles while the necessary measures are taken to replace the affected parts. There are no underlying safety issues with the vehicle. Thanks to the implementation of specified safety checks and risk assessments, some vehicles can continue to be used with certain limitations.”
As a preventive measure, the components involved will be replaced in all vehicles. Preliminary investigations indicate that the issues with the drive joint stem from incorrect installation rather than design flaws. For units deployed on operations, risk assessments will be conducted to allow their continued use. The Defence Ministry assured that there is no risk to mission fulfilment or other international commitments.
The incorporation of HX trucks dates back to 2007, with the fleet expanded through new acquisitions under the Rapid Acquisition Project. In February 2024, the purchase of 500 units manufactured by Rheinmetall MAN was announced under a contract valued at £282 million.
These vehicles are designed to enhance logistical efficiency, offering a platform with greater durability, mobility, and modularity to support military operations. In the UK’s case, they are configured to transport Flat Rack containers carrying ammunition, food, water, and other essential supplies, incorporating improvements such as increased payload, reduced turning radius, safety devices, and an optimised EURO 5 engine.
In December 2024, the British Army received the first batch of 20 HX trucks. The 7th Regiment of the Royal Logistic Corps, based in Dalton, began training with the new vehicles. At that time, Colonel Andy Elliot noted that accelerating capability delivery “poses a challenge to acquisition processes and policies,” but also provides lessons to “streamline future acquisitions.” He also stressed that these trucks are critical to reducing gaps in the logistical transport capacity required for large-scale operations.
The HX family ranks among the most widely used military truck platforms globally, valued for their reinforced structure and adaptability for transporting essential loads. Despite the temporary suspension, the MoD maintains that the issues detected do not pose a widespread risk to the platform and will be resolved through the full replacement of the affected parts.
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