Bundeswehr orders 56 additional Elefant 2 heavy transport vehicles from Rheinmetall

Published Jul 28, 01:25 PM UTC

The German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) has contracted Rheinmetall to deliver 56 additional Elefant 2 heavy-duty transport vehicles, with deliveries planned in 2026 and 2027. The contract, valued at approximately €60.5 million ($68.78 million), extends an existing seven-year framework agreement originally awarded in December 2018 for up to 137 vehicles. The Elefant 2, built on the HX81 platform, is an unarmored heavy transport vehicle powered by a 680-horsepower diesel engine, capable of carrying a gross combination weight of 135 tonnes and reaching speeds of 89 km/h. This order supports Germany's logistics capabilities for moving heavy combat vehicles, particularly within NATO collective defense efforts. Separately, the Bundeswehr commissioned Rheinmetall in May 2026 for over 2,000 additional military logistics vehicles under a broader framework contract valued at €1.015 billion.