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DAIMLER TRUCK has received a major order from BwFuhrparkService GmbH, the mobility service provider of the Bundeswehr, as part of a tender. This involves the delivery of a medium three-digit number of logistics vehicles of the type Mercedes-Benz Arocs. The trucks are intended to contribute to improving military transport capacities for national and alliance defense, in accordance with the current procurement strategy of the German federal government. The delivery of the vehicles is expected to be completed by the end of May 2026.
The Mercedes-Benz Arocs: Vehicle configurations for demanding use
The Mercedes-Benz Arocs is designed for operations with a high off-road proportion away from paved roads, such as on construction sites or for logistical tasks in the Defense sector. With high ground clearance and a robust chassis, it provides a highly resilient basis for various applications.
The vehicles ordered by BwFuhrparkService are the Arocs 6x6, a three-axle logistics truck with all-wheel drive and a payload of up to ten tons. For operations in swamp areas or for crossing rivers, the steel-sprung truck has a water fording capability of up to 0.9 meters. The proven OM 470 engine delivers a power of 335 kW (455 hp) and a torque of up to 2200 Nm in the front steering configuration. All vehicles also feature the automated transmission PowerShift 3 and comply with the current EU emission standard Euro VI.
The ordered Mercedes-Benz Arocs 6x6 are known as hümS vehicles – commercially available trucks that feature military special equipment in a limited scope. This includes, for example, camouflage paint. HümS vehicles are a supplement to the military fleet, as their series-production nature combined with specific equipment elements creates a variety of operational possibilities. Civil re-marketing after the initial use is therefore also fundamentally possible.
With the 15-foot interchangeable flatbed structure from Sonntag Fahrzeugbau GmbH, the vehicles can also be used for transporting materials in difficult terrain. The structure remains stable even when dealing with extreme terrain, where strong torsions in the vehicle frame can occur. This allows for a gentle delivery of the cargo to its destination. The interchangeable flatbed can be mounted or dismounted in a matter of minutes for this transport solution, or quickly loaded onto different carrier vehicles such as trucks, trains, or ships in combined transport. With compact dimensions of 15 feet (equivalent to 4.57 meters), the agility and off-road capability of the Arocs as a base vehicle are largely maintained.
Manufacturing in the German-French production network
The ordered Arocs 6x6 will be manufactured in the German-French production network. The axles and transmissions come from the Mercedes-Benz plant in Gaggenau. The heart of the drive unit, the OM 470 engine, is supplied from the Mannheim engine plant and is installed into the vehicle frame at the largest truck factory of Mercedes-Benz Trucks. The "marriage," the connection of the driver's cabin and chassis, is also performed as usual at the Wörth plant.
In the French Molsheim, less than 100 kilometers from Wörth am Rhein, the manufacturer subsequently equips the vehicles with military-specific equipment elements. Additionally, a base coating is applied, which is resistant to chemicals and reduces visibility in night vision devices and thermal imaging cameras.
Through the division of labor in assembly at two locations, the core competencies of both plants – efficient series production in large quantities and implementation of individual customer requests in the manufacturing process – can be optimally integrated. This has a positive effect on production capacities and delivery speed.
Among the scopes that Sonntag Fahrzeugbau GmbH implements in Sauerland are the construction of the container interchange frame with interchangeable flatbed, the military-specific equipment of the driver's cabin, and the final painting in camouflage design.
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