Norway's Forsvarsmateriell (Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency) has delivered 55 new trucks to the Norwegian Armed Forces from the Germany-based manufacturer Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV). The vehicles are part of a framework agreement that Norway and Sweden jointly signed with RMMV in 2014.

The delivery, completed after personnel underwent training at Sessvollmoen in Akershus (southeastern Norway), consists of 25 hook-lift vehicles, 6 rear-lift vehicles, 6 cranes and 18 tipper variants. The vehicles replace older Scania trucks delivered between 1986 and 1997.

In total, Norway has ordered just over 206 trucks in various configurations under the first contract phase, at a value of approximately 1.5 billion Norwegian kroner. The framework agreement runs for twelve years with an associated logistics support contract of 30 years.

- These are trucks adapted for military purposes according to the armed forces' requirements. They offer better protection, greater load capacity and improved cross-country mobility compared to the old Scania vehicles, says Tomas Beck, department head for land and joint capabilities at Forsvarsmateriell.

Before the end of the year, further deliveries are expected: 28 heavy recovery vehicles and 13 recovery vehicles are planned to be received before Christmas.

Nordic connection: The procurement is a joint project with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV). The two countries signed a joint framework agreement with RMMV in March 2014, a collaboration that has since resulted in several call-offs. The most recent major Norwegian order under the agreement, nearly 300 vehicles at a value equivalent to approximately 1.68 billion kronor, was signed in 2023 and represents the largest single call-off in the agreement's history to date.

RMMV is a joint venture in which Rheinmetall AG holds 51 per cent and MAN Truck & Bus SE holds 49 per cent.