The contract, provisionally signed with DAF Trucks on 9 December 2020, could come into force after a competitor’s objection was rejected. Under its terms, the Belgian armed forces will receive a total of 879 light and heavy trucks, some with protected cabs, for the army and medical forces from 2022. The new vehicles will replace Mercedes Unimog and Volvo trucks that are between 20 and 30 years old.
Of the 636 light trucks with 4×4 chassis, 410 are designed to transport small containers and 226 are equipped with a superstructure, 52 of which are equipped with a crane. Of the 243 heavy trucks with 8×8 chassis, 171 are equipped to transport containers while 52 come with a flatbed and crane, while 20 are designed as tippers.
The DAF trucks are equipped with a Tatra chassis. The cabin provides space for three crew members and has room to integrate all radio equipment. When transporting a 20-foot sea container, the vehicle height remains less than four meters. All versions will have the same cabin (armored or unarmored) and the same 4×4 or 8×8 chassis.
The military truck cabs will be produced at the DAF truck cab plant in Westerlo, Belgium. The engines come from the DAF engine plant in Eindhoven, and the bodies are produced by Tatra in the Czech Republic.
Gerhard Heiming
