A century of innovation – Scania’s legacy in defence

Established as Vagnfabriks Aktiebolaget i Södertelge (Vabis) in 1891, the origins of Scania’s factory and workshop were centred on producing railway wagons, baggage cars, passenger carriages, and horse-drawn trams. Possibly inspired by a previous successful purchase of a Vabis automobile for the military high command in 1904, the Swedish military became interested, and the naval shipyard in Karlskrona placed an order for a 2.5-ton “motorised freight wagon”, which was delivered in 1908. This was Vabis’ fifth truck ever built.

Early on, the military recognised the advantages of all-wheel drive for transport missions in difficult terrain. Consequently, the Swedish Army Administration tasked Scania with developing and producing a four-wheel-drive, four-wheel-steered artillery tractor, featuring steering at both ends. The vehicle, known as the T-3, was essentially a very heavy-duty truck. It weighed seven tons, featured a 70-hp engine, and was equipped with a four-speed gearbox.

During World War II, Scania produced a variety of military vehicles for the Swedish Army, including the Stridsvagn m/41 light tanks and the long-lived armoured personnel carrier SKP m/42 (see below). This era marked Scania’s significant contribution to military logistics and mobility.

Despite the outbreak of World War II, the Board of Scania-Vabis decided to implement its expansion plans to double the production facilities in Södertälje. Orders from the civilian sector had declined as hostilities approached Swedish borders. On the other hand, orders began to flood in from the military sector for trucks and separate engines. The company expanded from 800 employees in 1939 to 1,340 in 1945. The enormous wartime demand for more efficient military equipment stimulated strong growth in technical development.

Military orders reached their peak, accounting for 84 percent of turnover and 98 percent of Scania’s profits. During this period, the company was almost entirely defence oriented. Scania delivered trucks to the Swedish forces, as well as military special-purpose vehicles, including tanks, armoured personnel carriers, and four-wheel-drive off-road trucks.

In 1943, Scania and the Swedish Army Administration signed a contract for 300 chassis for an armoured terrain vehicle named SKP m/42. At its core, it was a flatbed truck with four-wheel drive for off-road driving, fitted with an armoured body to protect troops during transport.

The long-lived SKP m/42 proved its worth many times over the years. It was modernised several times and remained in service with the Swedish Defence Forces until the early 2000s, completing over 60 years of service. The vehicle was deployed by Swedish UN forces during the Congo Crisis (1961–1964) and by the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus in 1964.

The assault artillery vehicles were manufactured between 1944 and 1947, based on the chassis of the Stridsvagn m/41. The crew consisted of four members. The SAV remained part of the Swedish Army's wartime organisation well into the 1970s.

The post-war period saw the introduction of the L71 Regent, a truck that became a staple in both civilian and military applications. The first in a new generation of trucks to match an increasing demand for trucks with heavier payloads, its reliability and performance cemented Scania’s reputation in the heavy vehicle market.

Officially designated the LA82, the vehicle was nicknamed the “Anteater” by soldiers, inspired by its long hood. Scania delivered 440 LA82  trucks to the Swedish Defence. These 6x6 all-wheel-drive trucks were equipped with 10-litre turbocharged engines producing 200 to 220 hp and were primarily designed to tow 10-ton howitzers in rough terrain while carrying up to 5 tons of cargo on their flatbeds. During the 1980s, many of these vehicles were converted into bridge carriers, and they remained in service into the early 2000s.

Scania-Vabis merged with Saab, the Swedish aerospace, defence, and automobile company, to form a new entity, Saab-Scania. The strong relationship between the two companies fostered unique expertise in defence-related solutions. Saab was then – just as today – the supplier for fighter jets for the Swedish air force with legendary fighter jets as Draken (“The Dragon”), Viggen and today’s Gripen (“The Griffin”). This expertise stayed with Scania after it became an independent company in mid-1990, paving the way for numerous successful collaborations with Saab in the years that followed, including engines for combat boat CB90 as well as submarines from Saab.

Scania’s SBA111 and SBAT111S, designated Terrängbil 30 and 40 respectively in the Swedish Defence, were introduced in the mid-1970s. These all-wheel-drive trucks were renowned for their exceptional off-road capabilities, handling gradients of up to 60 percent and side slopes of 40 percent with a full load.

The SBA111 featured a 6-cylinder diesel engine, while the SBAT111S was equipped with a turbocharged version for towing heavy artillery. Both models were designed with an automatic transmission, making them extremely easy to operate for conscript drivers. High serviceability, large use of standard components from civilian trucks in line with the Scania modular system, and low maintenance costs were also prioritised in their development.

Over the years, several specialised variants were produced, including snow-clearing and rescue vehicles for the Swedish Air Force. Still in service after 50 years, the SBA/SBAT111 remains a quintessential example of an off-road military vehicle.

This year, Scania introduced the 2-series (the GPRT range), the company’s first fully modularised product line. The 2-series facilitated new orders for defence applications, including all-wheel-drive rescue trucks and snowplow trucks for the Swedish Air Force, as well as rocket artillery trucks for the Swedish Air Defence. The orders also included 19 T143 trucks (T denoting the bonneted “torpedo” hood) for the Swedish Defence. These heavy haulage trucks were used to transport tanks, along with their crews accommodated in the truck’s crew cab. V8-powered trucks with the conventional R-cab in a crew cab configuration were also delivered. In total, Scania delivered approximately 950 vehicles for defence purposes during the 1980s.

In 1986, Norway became the first NATO country to order Scania trucks. The contract included 1,600 off-road vehicles in nine different configurations of Scania’s 3-series, which was introduced later, in 1988. Subsequent orders from other NATO countries followed in the years to come.

The Combat Boat 90 (CB90) by Dockstavarvet in Sweden, part of Saab Group, has been produced in over 250 units worldwide since its introduction in 1989. The latest version, the CB90 NG, is powered by two Scania V8 diesel engines generating 900 horsepower each.

Developed by BAE Systems Hägglunds in collaboration with the Swedish Armed Forces and major sub-suppliers such as Scania, the CV90 is a tracked infantry fighting vehicle that entered service in the mid-1990s. Scania's V8 diesel engine has provided the CV90 the necessary power and reliability from the start. The latest model, Mk IV, features a 16-litre V8. Over 1,300 units have been produced to date, including 50 donated by Sweden to Ukraine.

In the early 2000s, Scania secured a groundbreaking order from the Dutch defence authorities: over 500 all-wheel-drive transport vehicles for standard container handling. Thanks to Scania’s modular system and extensive testing, the company was the only one at Eurosatory in Paris to present an 8x8 container hooklift truck without requiring special hydraulic solutions. The innovation drew industry attention and set a new standard for future defence orders across Europe.

In 2000, Scania became the first foreign supplier of vehicles to the French Defence. The initial delivery consisted of twelve Scania T144 CA6x4 trucks, bonneted tractors designed for construction site applications and previously supplied to the Swedish Defence Forces.

Additional deliveries to the French Military followed, including large orders for Scania 8x8 all-wheel-drive swap-body trucks (555 units) and 300 three-axle all-wheel-drive tanker trucks.

The Scania CaRaPACE (Camion Ravitailleur Pétrolier de l’Avant à Capacité Étendue), a specialised 8x6 armoured fuel tanker, was introduced in 2013 for the French Military. Designed for operations in hostile environments, the CaRaPACE has been deployed in conflict zones, providing essential fuel and logistical support under challenging conditions. In 2020, its advanced armour proved effective, protecting the crew during an attack in Mali.

Scania won the public procurement in the Netherlands – an initiative by the Dutch Ministry of Defence to replace and modernise the country’s fleet of military wheeled vehicles. The contract, covering an initial order of 2,037 vehicles, became Scania’s largest single order to date. The complete optional volume was acquired later, bringing the total delivery to more than 3,000 vehicles and triggering the start of a unique 10-year hybrid repair and maintenance contract. This collaboration can be extended for another five or ten years.

These vehicles join an existing fleet of 555 Scanias supplied in 2005 and 2006, all expected to remain operational and supported by Scania services throughout the next decade.

A large part of the contract – publicly known as "Gryphus," in homage to Scania’s griffin logotype and the Netherlands’ coat of arms featuring lions – consists of around 2,500 four-axle, all-wheel-drive specialised trucks, with a unique feature: for operations in conflict zones, they can be equipped with an armoured cabin. When needed, these heavy-duty cabins can easily replace the standard ones thanks to an ingenious swap-cab system.

The remaining vehicles are configured as two- and three-axle variants with a common driveline and driver interfaces, significantly reducing the logistical footprint when deployed and improving the interchangeability of qualified operators and maintainers. Altogether, this showcases the unique versatility and advantages of Scania’s modular platform.

After several years of discussions, including competitive field testing, the Danish Ministry of Defence’s Acquisition and Logistics Organisation commissioned Scania in 2017, following a public procurement process, to deliver approximately 800 trucks under a contract now scheduled for completion in 2026.

The delivery includes a wide range of more than 60 different configurations of highly specialised vehicles, ranging from fire trucks and military terrain vehicles to civil-purpose vehicles such as fuel tankers for the Danish Navy and Air Force. The implementation also covers technical training and the upgrade of Danish Defence internal workshops with special tooling and equipment. Meeting these detailed specifications – often with short lead times – was another testament to the flexibility enabled by Scania’s modular system.

Scania received an order to support the historic modernisation of Estonia’s defence forces. Deliveries of the first 265 vehicles began in summer 2024, under an agreement with Estonia and Latvia valued at EUR 437 million.

The agreement aims to equip Estonia and Latvia with defence vehicles over seven years, prompted by Europe’s heightened security situation. The deliveries include vehicles for cargo and defence unit transportation, such as tractors, platform trucks, and trucks equipped with cranes and hook lifts.

Scania Sweden received the largest order from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) in modern times. The order includes 475 heavy-duty vehicles, with an option for an additional 375 units – vehicles that will play a central role in strengthening the Swedish Armed Forces’ logistics capacity and overall defence capability.

Under the contract, Scania will deliver three truck variants – box body trucks, flatbed trucks, and hooklift trucks – over the coming years. These vehicles will be used by Swedish military units to transport goods, vehicles, and other essential equipment. It marks Scania Sweden’s largest contract from FMV since the 1980s. Deliveries are scheduled to take place between 2025 and 2027.