The Ministry of National Defence has begun a long-anticipated systemic replacement of its truck fleet. The winning bid in a tender for general-purpose vehicles was selected in August, while 5 September marked the start of a long-expected tender for high-mobility medium load capacity vehicles, of which up to 3,500 are to be purchased over the next decade.

By 2012 Auto-Hit will deliver 646 IVECO Eurocargo ML160E25 general-purpose medium load capacity vehicles in the 2008 version, worth about PLN 200 million. / Photo: Iveco

Smaller trucks selected

In August, the winning bid was chosen in a tender for the delivery of 646 general-purpose vehicles worth about PLN 200 million, which will allow the existing Star 200 and similar trucks, and also the Star 12.220 vehicles purchased in recent years, to be replaced in 2008-2012.

The tender, announced in May 2008 by the defence ministry’s Armed Forces Procurement Department, attracted four bids, of which one - from MAN Star Trucks - was submitted after the deadline and was not considered. According to information received by RAPORT Targowy, the bids of AMZ Kutno (Renault 44 AH MIDLUM) and Jelcz-Komponenty (Jelcz 422) did not meet the terms of the tender. This left just Auto-Hit, a company which offered IVECO Eurocargo ML160E25 vehicles (2008 version). The value of their bid exceeded the sum originally planned for this programme, and the need to find extra funds has delayed the finalization of the contract. It should be signed by mid-September 2008. The IVECO Eurocargo ML160E25 will be sent for tests to the Military Institute of Armour and Automotive Technology (WITPiS) in Sulejówek within 30 days of the contract signing (the tests will probably start on 15 October 2008). Final consent to the start of deliveries will depend on the positive results of these tests.

Larger trucks soon

By 2012 the defence ministry plans to buy at least 1,349 high-mobility medium load capacity vehicles (all 6x6, with permissible total mass of up to 14 metric tons, and carrying capacity of 5 tons in the field and 7 tons on the road), including 946 in a transport version (with open load-carrying body). The other 350 or so vehicles, featuring a cab and a basic chassis for fitting with specialist equipment, are to be ordered from a company selected in a tender by the manufacturers of the special systems ordered by and supplied to the defence ministry. Maintaining the prices and delivery terms guaranteed for successive years in the main contract will not only rationalize future programmes in terms of costs, but will also create a comfortable situation for the vehicle manufacturer and a solid basis for future offset proposals (if a foreign manufacturer is chosen).

One serious contender in the bid to deliver at least 1,349 high-mobility medium load capacity vehicles is the Jelcz P662 offered by Jelcz-Komponenty. The pictured vehicle has a 4-person armoured cab and was purchased by the Telecommunications Research Institute (PIT) as a carrier for the Liwiec artillery radiolocation station / Photo: Grzegorz Hołdanowicz

The vehicles with the load-carrying body will be purchased in 2 versions. The great majority will be delivered with a two-person non-armoured cab and a set of benches to carry 24 people. Ten similar vehicles, but with a two-person armoured cab and wheels enabling the vehicle to drive with a puncture, are to be purchased in 2010.

Trials are to be carried out on a test vehicle in 2009, and 282 vehicles will be purchased the same year. Another 212 will be added in 2010, 206 in 2011, and the last batch of 235 vehicles in 2012. Further purchases to meet the total planned number of about 3,500 vehicles may be made under separately negotiated annexes to the contract which will be signed as a result of the current tender.

Several bidders are expected to run in the contest for what is quite a substantial order, including Jelcz-Komponenty with its family of vehicles which are successfully being used by Polish missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Congo and Chad, and also Auto-Hit with its Tatra trucks, AMZ Kutno with Renault Trucks Defense, MAN Trucks, Mercedes-Benz, and probably BAE SYSTEMS with its U.S. Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) whose production for prospective European clients could be located in Poland.