The MAN HX is a family of purpose-designed tactical military trucks produced by Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles. Announced in 2003, it was developed from MAN’s commercial TG-range components and replaced the earlier FX and LX ranges.
MAN HX at a glance
| Announced | 2003 |
|---|---|
| First order | British Army, October 2004; contract March 2005 |
| Maker | MAN, since 2010 Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV), 51% Rheinmetall and 49% MAN |
| Base | commercial MAN TG WorldWide heavy truck chassis and driveline |
| Original models | HX60 (4×4), HX58 (6×6), HX77 (8×8) |
| HX2 models | 40M (4×4), 42M (6×6), 44M (8×8), 45M (10×10); announced 2012, first deliveries April 2016 |
| Transporter | HX81 heavy equipment transporter, an HX/HX2 hybrid |
| HX3 | announced May 2021, series production from 2027 |
| Replaced | FX and LX ranges, 2004–2005 |
The English Wikipedia article covers the whole HX range; details of the HX3 are still limited.
History of the MAN HX
Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles, then still part of MAN, confirmed at Defence Vehicles Dynamics 2003 that it was developing the HX range, and a developmental example was shown at DSEi 2003. In 2004 the earlier LX range was superseded, and the FX range followed in 2005.
Orders and generations
In October 2004 the first order came from the British Army, which selected the then MAN ERF UK Ltd proposal for its Support Vehicle requirement; the contract was awarded in March 2005. At Eurosatory 2012 RMMV displayed the HX2 range publicly for the first time, and the first HX2 trucks were delivered in April 2016. The HX and HX2 complemented the SX range until 2019, when they replaced it as the SX was no longer produced. The HX3 was announced in May 2021, with series production scheduled from 2027.
RMMV and design
The HX was developed and initially manufactured by MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG. The umbrella company is now Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles, created in 2010 by merging MAN’s military truck branch with Rheinmetall’s wheeled military vehicle branch, with Rheinmetall holding 51% and MAN 49%. HX trucks combine a commercial driveline and chassis with a modular military cab. The original HX used chassis and driveline components from the heavier part of MAN’s commercial TG WorldWide range introduced in 2000; the HX2 has a purpose-designed chassis with 400 mm of torsional twist. Model numbers show the layout: the HX60 is 4×4, the HX58 6×6 and the HX77 8×8, while HX2 models use the names 40M, 42M, 44M and 45M.
Design and features
- Tactical design: a commercial driveline and chassis combined with a modular military cab.
- Wheel layouts: 4×4, 6×6, 8×8 and 10×10 models for different payloads.
- Three generations: the original HX, the HX2 with a purpose-designed chassis and the planned HX3.
- Heavy transporter: the HX81 is an HX/HX2 hybrid built as a heavy equipment transporter.
MAN HX versions
- HX60: 4×4 chassis.
- HX58: 6×6 chassis.
- HX77: 8×8 chassis.
- HX2 40M, 42M, 44M and 45M: 4×4, 6×6, 8×8 and 10×10 models.
- HX81: heavy equipment transporter.
- HX3: announced in 2021, production from 2027.
The HX uses components from the commercial MAN TG range; the earlier five-tonne military MAN is described in the MAN 630 article. More MAN vehicles are in the MAN collection.
Sources
- RMMV HX range of tactical trucks, English Wikipedia: history, models, RMMV joint venture, design
