Rabat, Morocco — Oshkosh Defense, a business of Oshkosh Corporation, has received a second Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) order from the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces for heavy equipment transporters. The order was placed through Optimum Vehicle Logistics, Oshkosh Defense’s exclusive distributor in Morocco, based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Contract Details
The order includes 50 Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET) A1 tractors and 50 MN573 heavy-duty trailers. The trailers were designed and manufactured in partnership with Dutch company Broshuis B.V.
The contract also includes spare parts, services and training. Oshkosh Defense has not disclosed the financial value of the contract or a delivery schedule.
The first tranche of HET A1 tractors from an earlier Moroccan order has already been delivered and is operational with Moroccan forces.
HET A1 Capabilities
The HET A1 is designed to transport main battle tanks, recovery vehicles and self-propelled artillery.
The vehicle is powered by a 700-horsepower Caterpillar C18 engine and uses an Allison 4800SP transmission, a single-speed Oshkosh 30000 Series transfer case and two 55,000-pound winches. Its curb weight is approximately 20,638 kg.
When paired with the MN573 trailer, the system provides Morocco with additional capacity to transport heavy armored vehicles and other military equipment.
Previous Moroccan Order
The latest agreement follows Morocco’s first publicly announced Oshkosh HET A1 order in September 2024. That DCS contract, also placed through Optimum Vehicle Logistics, covered HET A1 tractors and 635NL trailers.
Deliveries from the first order were expected to begin in summer 2025, and the first HET A1 vehicles have now entered operational service with Moroccan forces.
Supporting Morocco’s Armored Forces
The additional HET A1 vehicles support Morocco’s broader military mobility modernization program. They are intended to help move heavy equipment, sustain armored formations and reposition military assets between operational areas.
Morocco operates a significant Abrams tank fleet, including 222 M1A1SA Abrams tanks and additional M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams tanks that have entered service under earlier procurement programs.
Morocco’s Wider Land Forces Modernization
Morocco is also evaluating options to further modernize its land forces. Recent reports have linked the country to a possible procurement of South Korea’s Hyundai Rotem K2 Black Panther tanks, with figures of up to 400 tanks mentioned in supplier presentations and media reports.
However, no binding K2 contract has been announced, and the procurement remains at the evaluation stage.
Industry Partnership
Pat Williams, Chief Programs Officer at Oshkosh Defense, said the additional order reflects demand for the company’s performance-proven mobility solutions and supports Morocco’s modernization objectives.
The contract combines U.S. and European defense industry capabilities. Oshkosh Defense supplies the HET A1 tractors, while Broshuis B.V. provides the specialized heavy-duty trailers.
Broshuis is a Dutch family-owned company founded in 1885 and specializes in military and heavy-duty trailers. Optimum Vehicle Logistics serves as Oshkosh Defense’s exclusive distributor in Morocco.
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