On Tuesday, 2 December 2025, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration FMV (Försvarets materielverk), under the Ministry of Defence, announced the start of serial deliveries of the first Scania R620 XT 8×4/4 heavy tractor trucks. Earlier, since the end of January this year, a pre-series prototype had been undergoing testing.
Photos: FMV
Let us recall that on 17 February, FMV signed a contract of undisclosed value with domestic company Scania Sverige AB for the delivery of 65 serial-production vehicles, with an option for 60 more. The tractors, developed by the Laxå Special Vehicles AB design office in cooperation with the armed forces, are powered by a DC16 115 V8 engine producing 620 hp (456 kW) and are equipped with a Crewcab double, four-door cabin (this is a redesigned Scania R620 6×4, editor’s note).
“In total, we will deliver 125 heavy tractors to the Armed Forces, with a delivery rate of two vehicles per week. The final delivery is expected in January 2027,” said Thomas Larsson, FMV project manager (earlier statements indicated deliveries would be completed in 2026 – editor’s note).
In the case of the Crewcab cabin, the entire crew of the transported tank can fit inside, which eliminates the need for additional vehicles to transport soldiers. In contrast, the R-type cabin allows installation of a larger engine – a necessity, as the entire set, including a single Stridsvagn 122 tank on a trailer, weighs 110 metric tones. The transport set has a range of at least 800 km, thanks to a fuel capacity of 1000 liters.
The new heavy tractor units are equipped with air suspension, disc brakes, and driver assistance systems, and half of them have been fitted with a winch to assist in loading damaged tanks.
Compared to their predecessors, the Scania R-143EK 6×6 and Scania T144 CA 6×4, delivered in the 1990s, the new tractors are more powerful, offer higher average speeds, greater range, and significantly improved comfort (supplemented by the newer RMMV TGS-MIL series vehicles).
“A new feature is the crew cab with four doors, where the entire four-person tank crew can fit, including small arms and some equipment. In the driver’s cab, which is a so-called R-cab, there is space for two truck drivers who can also spend the night there,” says Ulf Hjelmberg, FMV systems engineer.
The first unit to receive the new tractors is the South Scania Regiment P 7 (Södra skånska regementet) of the Swedish Army (Svenska Armén). Next in line is the Norrbotten Regiment I 7 (Norrbottens regemente) in Boden, followed by the Skaraborg Regiment P 4 (Skaraborgs regemente).
“Since the tank transport capability has been neglected within the Armed Forces, the new heavy tractor is a long-awaited addition,” says Thomas Larsson.
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