Team 45° North Seek to Revitalise Canadian Logistics Capabilities

Rheinmetall Canada, Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV) and Navistar Defence Canada have joined forces in a partnership, dubbed Team 45⁰ North, in pursuit of Canada’s Logistics Vehicle Modernisation (LVM) project – an initiative that will revitalise the Canadian Army’s light and heavy logistics vehicle capabilities.

Drawing on more than 200 years combined expertise in developing technical defence and vehicle solutions in Canada, Team 45⁰N brings together two premier military vehicle manufacturers and a world-class integrator to offer the Canadian Army battle-tested trucks, purpose-built for military use.

Team 45⁰N offers a low-risk, high-quality solution for the LVM project. Rheinmetall Canada has been a trusted partner to the Canadian armed forces in several programmes for decades: the company is an internationally acknowledged system integrator and a dependable provider of in-service support to large Canadian vehicle projects. It is also known for its collaborative approach to working with customers throughout the full lifecycle of their programmes.

Bringing unique skills and deep knowledge to the team, RMMV has successfully developed, built, and serviced military vehicles around the globe for over a century. To satisfy all its customers’ needs, and to support them in fulfilling their most demanding missions, the company offers a complete range of services, including project management, systems engineering and integration, through-life support, repair and maintenance, and spares management.

Navistar Defence Canada rounds out the team, offering significant experience in working with the Canadian government. The company delivered 1,300 militarised commercial-off-the-shelf (MilCOTS) vehicles to the Department of National Defence for the Medium Support Vehicle System (MSVS) project, to support domestic and expeditionary missions. It continues to provide logistic support through its vast parts and service network across Canada. The company also supplied the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) with APCs, to provide increased protection and rescue capabilities for RCMP officers and members of the public in high-risk situations.

Team 45⁰N will therefore offer a comprehensive LVM solution that fulfils the Canadian Army’s logistics mission profile, specifically designed to meet military requirements – durability, protection, payload capacity, mobility, and all-terrain capability.

RMMV’s HX tactical trucks already have a successful global track record, and a well-established group of user nations, including Australia, Austria, Denmark, Germany, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and the UK. The vehicles excel in all climates, are off-road capable, and – most importantly – offer an unparalleled level of protection. The combat-proven, ready-to-use design can also be upgraded and modified according to specific customer needs. A true MOTS solution, the HX family combines professional logistics with force mobility support and tactical special role applications, making it a reliable enabler for joint operations in complex environments.

Navistar Defence Canada provides unrivalled domestic and expeditionary logistic vehicle solutions. Its vehicles are extraordinarily versatile: the flexible platforms are easily tailored to meet specific mission requirements and configured in several variants, such as water tankers; petroleum, oil and lubricant trucks; general troop transporters; wreckers; dump trucks; heavy equipment transport trucks; and more. They have been used in recent natural disaster relief missions in Canada and have been a key logistics force-multiplier on the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Dedicated to supporting Canada’s armed forces, while leveraging Canadian industry,
Team 45⁰N is committed to supporting the customer before, during, and after deliveries, while creating pan-Canadian economic growth. The partnership draws on a coast-to-coast network of suppliers, and will help bolster an in-country workforce and supply chain. Rheinmetall Canada and its partners’ excellent track record in fulfilling their Industrial and Technological Benefits commitments are a testament to the team’s ongoing commitment.

Navistar has developed a reputation for an exceptionally versatile, flexible and reliable family of logistics solutions. (Photo via Rheinmetall)