DAF Trucks has delivered the first CF Military vehicles out of a total of 879 trucks to the Belgian Armed Forces. at DAF’s Axle & Cab Factory in Westerlo, Belgium.
The order from the Belgian Armed Forces comprises 636 two-axle 4×4 trucks for general transportation purposes and 243 four-axle 8×8 trucks for specific applications (tipping, container transport and tasks where cranes are needed).
Around 350 vehicles are fitted with armoured cabs, which provide a high level of protection for occupants during military operations. Preparations for the delivery of the first 150 heavy vehicles to the Belgian Army (Motorised Brigade and Special Operations Regiment) and the Medical Component of the Belgian Armed Forces are well underway.
DAF Trucks has worked closely with Czech vehicle manufacturer TATRA TRUCKS on the CF Military vehicles. The trucks have a unique chassis design with an all-wheel-drive driveline and a central, load-bearing tube with independent wheel suspension. The independent suspension, the unique TATRA chassis and the Central Tyre Inflation System ensure unrivalled off-road performance and exceptionally comfortable driving, even in the most challenging terrain.
The trucks are powered by a 10.8-litre PACCAR MX-11 (4×4) or a 12.9-litre PACCAR MX-13 (8×8) engine, with an output of 300 kW/410 hp and 340 kW/460 hp respectively. The reduced height is another major asset of the CF Military truck. The total vehicle height never exceeds four metres, even when transporting 20-foot shipping containers.
The non-armoured cabs for CF Military trucks are produced from start to finish at the DAF factory in Westerlo. The interiors for the state-of-the-art shielded cabins, which are supplied by TATRA DEFENCE VEHICLES, are also produced in Westerlo. The controls are the same in both types of cabs, allowing drivers to easily switch from one type of vehicle to another.