The Luxembourg army has launched a comprehensive renewal of its fleet of wheeled vehicles, introducing new VW Amarok pick-ups. On July 29, the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Luxembourg Army, Colonel Pascal Ballinger, handed over a total of 23 of these multi-purpose vehicles to the troops for use.
In 2018, after market research and a call for tenders, the Luxembourg General Staff ordered the vehicles from the VW dealership Garage Losch, Luxembourg, as the main contractor. The vehicles were commissioned in two variants: 20 light multipurpose vehicles (LMPV) and three tactical ambulance vehicles (Ambulance tactique).
In cooperation between Losch and the Dutch vehicle supplier Modiforce as a subcontractor, 20 LMPV were built to the requirements of the Luxembourg army. The vehicles weigh 2.3 tons and are powered by a 3 l V6 engine with 150 kW of emission class Euro VI via an automatic gearbox. Four people can be transported in the cabin. The cargo compartment in the rear holds around two cubic meters of cargo that can be attached to lashing rails. The load in the rear is protected from the weather by a hard top, which is accessible from the rear across the full cross-section and via flaps on both sides. Together with a roof load of 175 kg, a payload of 750 kg can be transported. With a ground clearance of 20 cm and a wading depth of 50 cm, the LMPV can be used off-road.
The vehicle can be transported by air with lashing eyes and is approved for transport on the A400M (air clearance). Military options include a second (radio) battery, 24-volt power supply (alongside the 12-volt power supply), Thales radios, civilian and NATO-standard trailer hitches, and the blackout light switch that turns off all lights. and turn on the camouflage lights.
The Ambulance tactique was set up by Losch together with the Finnish ambulance supplier Tamlans. With the extended chassis, the wheelbase was increased from 3090 mm to 3490 mm, a more powerful engine (188 kW) and air suspension were installed on the rear axle. The total weight increased to 3.5 tons. A lying and a sitting patient can be accommodated in the treatment room and cared for by a medical specialist. The necessary devices are available and can be operated while driving. Additional batteries are available for this and for the military radio, which can be interconnected with the vehicle battery.
The ambulance vehicles were already delivered in 2020. The first LMPV was delivered and tested as a demonstrator in 2019. After modifications, the series was released and the vehicles were delivered by mid-July 2021. The procurement contract includes an agreement for manufacturer service during the first five years of operation. A total of almost three million euros was spent on this.
Gerhard Heiming