This isn’t a still from a post-apocalyptic movie, but a line-up of four brand new military trucks with a 4×4 drivetrain. Though these off-roaders are marketed as the DAF CF Military, the backbone of the vehicles comes from Tatra in the Czech Republic. And we all know what that means: yippee!
Truck makers Tatra and DAF joined forces in 2011. In that year, the Czechs introduced their new Phoenix series of heavy, all-wheel drive trucks and tractors with a DAF engine and tilt cab. And relevantly, both manufacturers also have a long history of building dedicated military vehicles.
In 2021, the Belgian Armed Forces placed an order for 879 DAF CF Military vehicles, 636 units with a 4×4 drivetrain and 243 8×8 trucks. Forty percent of the ordered vehicles will be equipped with an armored cab.
Unmistakably, this is the cab of the DAF CF-series Euro 6 (emission standards). The history of the CF tilt cab goes back to 1992, when the 65-/75-/85-series was unveiled. And speaking of DAF cabs, since 1966 they are built in the truck maker’s plant in Westerlo, Belgium.
The armored cab structures are produced by Tatra Defence Vehicles in the Czech Republic, the Belgians take care of the interior (dashboard and such).
The 4×4 vehicles are powered by a 410 DIN-hp, 10.8 liter MX-11 turbodiesel and will be used for all kinds of transport tasks. As can be seen in the picture, the cargo body is secured with twist locks (just like a shipping container) and can be put on and off the truck with a forklift.
I already mentioned Tatra’s backbone. Or more precisely, their famed central backbone tube. For taking a closer look at it, we’d better descend to ground level and inspect the tube from front- to backside.
The rigid backbone tube always comes with swinging half-axles. Superb off-road capabilities right there.
These four four by fours can be best described as a Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles.
Related article, a civilian 8×8:
Truck Show Outtake: 2019 Tatra Phoenix 8×8 Dump Truck – Bring It On!
They look beautiful like all European trucks. Not at Scania levels, but better than Americans.
Vulnerability to IEDs has led to most military trucks intended for tactical use to adopt some form a V-hull to deflect blasts from below. This one doesn’t seem to have that feature. Perhaps the unusual central tube provides enough added IED protection to avoid the need for further slope. Either that or this truck is intended to be strictly a support vehicle operated in areas relatively secure from any IED threat.
The article’s trucks are pure cargo vehicles, I guess the US equivalent would be something like this Oshkosh FMTV 4×4.
Missiles are the issue these days for trucks, as israel has found out IEDs are calculated to disable a tank or D9 bulldozer not soft things like trucks, you cant add enough armour to a wheeled vehicle these days
The swap body system is becoming popular here at this time of year hundreds of former stock and freight units become tankers like the ones I drove, they run 3 months hot 24/7, often to run in new trucks then in summer revert back their other role with just a body swap,
Autoshift or manual trans?the auto in CFs Ive driven is very clever dowhill speed is what you set, down 10% grades @44,000kg is at whatever the display says, it will not gather speed, yeah I like Jakes but compared they are useless, I suspect these trucks would have that ECU and transmission for convoy work,
An army convoy moving from a stop is great to watch seen em playing near Townsville in OZ when the first vehicle moves off so does the last one it doesnt matter what they are the whole convoy moved the same, nobody playing games on their phone at traffic lights.
Either a ZF TraXon automated manual transmission or an Allison automatic. That is, those are the transmissions available in the Tatra Phoenix (which these basically are).
Odd, none of the articles or press releases about the 4×4 and 8×8 military trucks mentions the transmission.
Does military trucks have to comply to emission standards?
I would hate to be under artillery fire waiting for parked regen to finish.
That looks like a Meccano kit with CF closing panels glued on the front.
I’ve long been fascinated by the Tatra oily bits – they look indestructible!
When looking at pure off-road/rough-terrain capabilities in this (road legal) size- and weight segment of trucks, Tatra is the one to beat. From 4×4 to 12×12 and everything inbetween.
I forgot to ask Johannes. DAF also manufactures buses or is it only dedicated to heavy trucks?.
Remember seeing some DAF brand buses, both as their own brand and as a chassis manufacturer for other brands. But it doesn’t seem to me that you see many in Europe like other brands as Mercedes, MAN, or even Volvo, Scania or Iveco.
Situated in the Dutch Eindhoven region, just like DAF Trucks, is a company called the VDL Group, a huge family business (VDL = Van der Leegte).
DAF and VDL have been working together since 1953. After DAF’s bankruptcy in 1993, VDL took over ‘DAF Bus International’, which was the starting point for ‘VDL Bus & Coach’. Since then, VDL has taken over many Dutch and Belgian bus and coach manufacturers, like Bova and Berkhof from NL and -more recently- Van Hool from Belgium.
These days, DAF is VDL’s preferred engine supplier, no surprise there.
Website (English version): https://www.vdlbuscoach.com/en
Thanks buddy.
I would like to see this brand frequently in the US, if Volvo could establish itself in the heavy truck sector, DAF would have no problems. I understand that they have very reliable products.
Since 1996, DAF is a subsidiary of the PACCAR company, just like Kenworth and Peterbilt, which are the US brands. Outside North America, DAF represents PACCAR. No DAFs for the North American market for sure. They don’t build conventionals anyway.
As for buses and coaches, Van Hool was present in North America, and as mentioned above, is now owned by VDL (Van Hool went bankrupt earlier this year). So who knows. Mind you, the 10.8 liter MX-11 and 12.9 liter MX-13 turbodiesels in VDL coaches are also used by DAF, Kenworth, and Peterbilt (and Tatra). Those are in-house DAF/PACCAR engines.
In some countries you still see DAF buses.
If the acronym DAF says on the front of the bus, I assume it is a vehicle belonging to the brand, not just a chassis.
Here you can see one in Israel.
@ Helios, my guess is that’s a VDL SB-4000 bus chassis with a DAF/PACCAR engine, probably with a body from Israel.
I knew DAF’s history with VDL, and I know that VDL uses DAF engines for its buses.
From what little I know, DAF also supplies engines for other manufacturers that make intercity and coach buses such as Irizar or Marcopolo.
Surplus LMTV vehicles are somewhat common in rural Oregon. The have a Steyr cab and a Caterpillar diesel and US made chassis making them a sort of Austrian-American hybrid. I don’t think anyone has bough an armored model although they are a common sight in National Guard convoys, sometimes in desert camo sometimes repainted to temperate camo.
Yes, I immediately recognized the Steyr cab when I was looking for similar trucks in the US. That’s when I came across the term ‘Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles’, never heard of that before.
Some nice pictures and more history here:
http://www.army-guide.com/eng/product2211.html