In Sweden, the Defense Procurement Administration, the Försvarets materielverk (FMV), has announced that deliveries of the heavy-duty R620 XT 8×4/4 V8 tractors for tanks have begun.
By the end of January, the first instance of the new heavy-duty tractor was delivered to the Swedish Armed Forces for tank transportation.
Overall, FMV will deliver a total of 125 heavy-duty series R620 XT 8×4/4 V8 tractors with semi-trailers outfitted by Scania, with a delivery rhythm of two vehicles a week. The final delivery is scheduled for January 2027.
Features of Scania R620 XT 8×4/4 V8
The new Scania heavy-duty tractors come equipped with pneumatic suspensions, disc brakes, and driving support systems; half of them will also have a winch for lifting even damaged tanks.
Compared to their predecessors, delivered in the late ’90s, the R620 XT 8×4/4 V8s are more robust, have a higher average speed, greater autonomy, and notably enhanced comfort for the crew and tank operators.
The cabin, equipped with four doors, can accommodate the four tank operators plus their weapons and personal equipment, and the two crew members who now also have the option to spend the night inside the vehicle.
The new Scania tractor features four axles to reduce pressure on the axles when the vehicle is loaded; the upgraded Stridsvagn 122 weighs up to 65 tons in combat condition; the total combination, including the Stridsvagn 122B (Swedish version of the Leopard 2A5) transported on the trailer, weighs a total of 110 tons.
The propulsion is entrusted to a Scania DC 16 115 8-cylinder engine with 620hp to maintain a higher/constant pace during transportation; the fuel tank holds twice the capacity of current tractors, with 1,000 liters.
Source Försvarets materielverk (FMV)
Photo credit @Scania Sverige
