When I recently collated the data, I found that almost every European truck manufacturer has its own defense department. The defense department is responsible for building and modifying trucks that meet military standards, and is responsible for connecting with governments, military organizations and other entities. Mercedes-Benz, Scania and Iveco all have their own military card modification divisions, while Renault, Duff and Mann have chosen to cooperate with other groups to launch their own military card products.
Which Truck Manufacturer in Europe has the most complete range of defense products? That must be Volvo. From trucks to construction machinery such as excavators, to articulated truck chassis, generator sets, etc., Volvo has all the things to offer. However, compared with other manufacturers, Volvo's military card products have a lower appearance rate and are less eye-catching. Coinciding with the replacement of a new generation of Volvo trucks, Volvo's own military trucks have also ushered in an update. In today's article, Tigot Commercial Vehicle Network will take you through a rough overview of Volvo's military card product series.
Chassis Car:
Two-axis FMX 4x4
In Volvo's military card sequence, the most important thing is the chassis car. These vehicles are versatile and can be used to load people and cargo, as well as to be converted into square cabins. Among them, the FMX 4x4 is the smallest size of the Volvo Army truck chassis.
Volvo officially positioned the FMX 4x4 as a lightweight, highly maneuverable vehicle, which is characterized by high passability and high maneuverability. The FMX 4x4 features Euro 3 Volvo Penta Industrial D13 engines with 440 hp and excellent reliability. Paired with a specially tuned Volvo I-Shift with crawl gearbox, the minimum speed can be as low as 1km/h.
The vehicle uses a combination of front leaf spring rear air suspension, with a GVW of 22 tons. Automatic traction control, hill assist, off-road cruise control, multiple winch options, off-road kits and more are also standard, and optionally coat the cab and frame for added durability and durability.
Three-axis FMX 6x2 6x4 6x6
In the product range of the three-axis version of the Volvo FMX, Volvo offers a variety of drive formats from 6x2 single drive to 6x6 full drive. Among them, the 6x2 single-drive model is mainly aimed at the logistics between military bases, basically adopting the configuration of the civilian version of volvo FMX, and not optimizing much for military applications.
The vehicle's powertrain is a combination of a D13 engine and an I-Shift transmission, and can be equipped with a variety of bodywork. There are also many optional combinations of suspension and wheelbase, which can be matched according to needs. In addition, the winch, steel bumper and reinforced frame configurations need to be separately selected and are not standard, and the axle only uses a single-stage reduction bridge.
The 6x4 and 6x6 versions are very different from the 6x2 version, which uses the latest generation of Volvo FMX cabs and components such as headlights, which are more ergonomic and comfortable. Due to the need to face off-road road conditions, both FMX are equipped with steel bumpers, headlight guards, as well as light stands, roof racks and other equipment.
The 6x4 and 6x6 versions feature volvo Penta Industrial D13 engine configurations with I-Shift transmission with crawl gear and wheel shedding, as well as automatic traction control, hill assist, off-road cruise control, multiple winch options, off-road kits, and a variety of suspension options. The chassis is also available with a variety of different toolbox and fuel tank options to cope with different operating conditions.
Four-axis FMX 8x4 8x6 8x8
Compared to other military cards, the four-axis version has the highest visibility. The four-axle military card has a longer length and a larger load, is more suitable for heavy transportation in the army, and is the most important vehicle. Among them, the 8x4 version of FMX is almost the standard civilian version of FMX, painted with a layer of army green paint. In the military sequence, the 8x4 FMX mainly undertook logistics work behind the front line.
Apart from the enhanced searchlights on the roof, the vehicle did not add other off-road equipment. Steel bumpers, winchs and other equipment need to be optional. In order to cope with the logistics of the urban environment, the 8x4 FMX reserves a sign bracket on the front cover to remind passers-by to avoid in time. The vehicle is powered by a D13 engine, an I-Shift gearbox and a single-stage reduction bridge, and a variety of wheelbase, suspension and additional equipment are available.
Modeled on the latest generation FMX, the 8x6 model features the 1st, 3rd and 4th axles with driving power, making it a stable mix between the strongest off-road and road transport. The 8x6 model is much harder-core than the 8x4, with a full set of military configurations such as headlight mesh, steel bumpers and chassis reinforcements, and a variety of bodywork options.
The 8x8 model corresponds to the strongest off-road military card that Volvo standards can provide, with driving force on all wheels, able to cope with the most rough roads, and with the support of electronic systems such as a complete front and rear winch system and ATC traction control system. The 8x8 model is equipped with full leaf spring suspension to improve off-road capacity and load carrying capacity. In addition, the 8x6 and 8x8 models are equipped with Volvo Penta D13 Industrial Engine, the emission standard is Euro 3, and with an I-Shift gearbox with ultra-low crawl gear and wheel reduction, the minimum speed can reach 1km/h, and the off-road escape ability is very strong.
tractor:
There's not much to say about tractors. This type of tractor is basically used to tow heavy equipment such as tanks, and the requirements for vehicles are higher. Due to the usage habits of the military, fixed brand products are generally used. Scania, Mercedes-Benz and Rheinmetall Mann, for example, are firmly in control of this area. Volvo, on the other hand, is not too popular. Volvo offers a wide range of FMX tractors from 4x4 to 8x6 and can be configured in a wide variety of details.
In addition to these trucks, Volvo also has other military products, such as the infantry carrier based on the Volvo 9900 luxury bus in the picture above, and many construction machinery, which we will introduce to you in a future article. At the same time, due to the particularity of military card products, Volvo will also customize special versions of trucks according to customer needs.
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Text: Heseaotter