Safe in the armored crane

The Liebherr-Werk Ehingen GmbH delivered the first mobile and recovery cranes of the current major order for the Bundeswehr on time in February. In June 2017, Liebherr received an order from the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology, and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) for the delivery of a total of 71 protected mobile and recovery cranes worth about 150 million euros.
The order includes the delivery of 33 protected recovery crane vehicles with the model designation G-BKF and 38 mobile cranes G-LTM. A special focus is on crew protection: all vehicles will be equipped with protected driver cabs and protected crane cabins from Rheinmetall. Deliveries are expected to be completed by 2021.

The G-BKF recovery crane vehicle from Liebherr is a protected recovery crane vehicle on a serial-like four-axle mobile crane chassis. It is highly off-road capable and agile. With two recovery winches and a tow bar at the rear of the vehicle, it is suitable for recovering and towing a variety of different vehicles such as the new generation of protected command and function vehicles (GFF), protected transport vehicles (GTF), MULTI FSA (interchangeable container vehicles), as well as existing wheeled vehicles in use under protection of the operating personnel. The G-BKF is flexible and cost-effective to use, as it is equipped for both vehicle recovery and load lifting. With a 20.9-meter telescopic boom, the G-BKF can quickly and accurately handle loads of up to 20 tons in weight.

The Protected Mobile Crane G-LTM commissioned by the Bundeswehr is a serial-like four-axle mobile crane with a protected driver's cab and protected crane cabin. Its all-terrain chassis features the latest chassis and drive technology, providing excellent handling in difficult terrain. A six-cylinder Liebherr diesel engine in the chassis, delivering 330 kW and a torque of 2,335 Nm, gives the G-LTM the necessary power. It has a 35.7-meter telescopic boom and a recovery winch at the rear of the vehicle. The Bundeswehr order includes 17 devices with 8.4 tons of counterweight, referred to as "Heavy Mobile Crane Vehicles," and 21 devices with 22.5 tons of counterweight, designated as "Super Heavy Mobile Cranes".
High demands on crew protection

The focus of the order was on crew protection. To meet the high requirements in this area, Liebherr-Werk Ehingen GmbH collaborated with Rheinmetall, the leading European system house for military technology, for the protected driver's cab and protected crane cabin components. The driver cabs produced by Rheinmetall offer the crew protection against ballistic, mine, and IED threats, and are also equipped with an NBC ventilation system. The upper deck cabins also produced by Rheinmetall provide the crane operator with ballistic protection during crane operations. Both cabins are identical for the G-LTM and G-BKF devices.

RHEINMETALL on the Internet: www.rheinmetall.com

Liebherr on the Internet: www.liebherr.com