A Polish military truck manufacturer Zakłady Samochodowe Jelcz/Jelczańskie Zakłady Samochodowe, will deliver Jelcz brand semitrailer tractors for transporting pontoon bridges Daglezja-P capable of sustaining Abrams tanks during river crossings. The Lower Silesia manufacturer and the French company CNIM Systemes Industrieles (CSI) executed a contract on July 28. Up to 156 6×6 vehicles will be delivered to the Polish military.
The agreement calls for the delivery of Jelcz semitrailer tractors for CSI’s Daglezja-P PFM (Pont Flottant Motorisé/Motorized Floating Bridge) pontoon bridge systems.
Under the umbrella of the Polish Armaments Group, the Polish manufacturer has received a significant number of military orders. The Lower Silesian manufacturer has been the primary chassis supplier to the Polish Armed Forces for a considerable time. They provided the army with over 350 new vehicles of various configurations in the past year.
The French ordered 24 Jelcz C662 D.43 semitrailer tractors (with a 6×6 transmission system) for more than 52 million Polish Zlotys (129.5918 million USD). The Polish side is responsible for producing and delivering these vehicles by the end of 2024. In addition to conducting research, delivering service and training products, the contract stipulates creating operational documentation.
The Polish company Jelcz will transport the French-made pontoon bridges. This results from a prior accord between the Armament Inspectorate (Ministry of National Defence) and CNIM Systemes Industrieles (CSI). Warsaw reserved trucks from Lower Silesia to transport the engineering forces’ new PFM (Pont Flottant Motorisé/Motorized Floating Bridge) pontoon bridge systems.
The PFM pontoon bridge systems will allow for the construction of 100-meter bridges or serve as two ferries, with a minimum load capacity of MLC 70 (64 tonnes) for tracked vehicles and MLC 96 (88 tonnes) for wheeled vehicles. These bridge systems will allow water obstacles to be traversed by vehicles such as M1A2 SEP v.3 Abrams tanks, whether driven independently or transported on wheeled low-loader sets. According to the Polish military, the new equipment will enable the organisation of rapid and secure crossings for vehicles up to the MLC 90T/100W class.
Additionally, allied tanks such as the British Challenger 3, the French Leclerc XLR, the German Leopard 2A8, and the Italian Ariete AMV can traverse the bridge. The contract between the Armament Inspectorate and the French manufacturer is worth 1.5 billion Polish Zlotys (about 377.4525 million USD). The contract stipulates that one complete set will cost 115 million Polish Zloty (about 286.60875 million USD). With a quick calculation, it is evident that the French could deliver up to thirteen sets to the Polish army.
Under the military program Daglezja-P, the Polish army may receive up to 156 Jelcz vehicles, consisting of 12 transport sets comprising Jelcz semitrailer tractors and trailers, eight pontoon blocks with propulsion engines and four loading ramps.
In addition, it will include equipment, tools, and safety devices for the construction, maintenance, and operation of the crossing.
These new bridges are intended to replace the PP-64 Wstga pontoon bridges that had been in service since the mid-1960s and were based on the Soviet PMP system. Modernising and enhancing the capabilities of the Polish Armed Forces, the transition to the Daglezja-P system represents a significant advance.
The Jelcz C662 D.43 is a semitrailer tractor with a three-axle (6×6 all-wheel drive) configuration. The cabin can be armoured for increased protection. The vehicle is propelled by an Iveco diesel engine with a 10.3-litre displacement and 430 horsepower. It features a sixteen-speed manual gearbox. The Polish military already utilises this variant as a tractor for the 20-meter Daglezja MS-20 bridges.
The Jelcz C662 D.43 is a versatile and powerful vehicle capable of supporting various military operations, particularly in transporting and deploying pontoon bridge systems such as the Daglezja-P. Due to its sturdy construction and high horsepower, it can convey heavy equipment and military vehicles over difficult terrain and water obstacles.
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