Liebherr and Rheinmetall jointly promoted new G-LTM 1090-4.2 protected crane at Eurosatory 2018.

Liebherr-Werk Ehingen GmbH, the world’s leading maker of mobile cranes, and Rheinmetall, were presenting the new G-LTM 1090-4.2 protected crane at Eurosatory 2018 for the first time. Like the G-BKF protected recovery crane which debuted in Paris in 2016, it forms part of the Bundeswehr’s new generation of crane systems. In both cases, Rheinmetall supplies the protected driver’s cabs and crane cabs.

New G-LTM 1090-4.2 protected crane at Eurosatory 2018

Liebherr-Werk Ehingen GmbH, the world’s leading maker of mobile cranes, and Rheinmetall, were presenting the new G-LTM 1090-4.2 protected crane at Eurosatory 2018 for the first time. Like the G-BKF protected recovery crane which debuted in Paris in 2016, it forms part of the Bundeswehr’s new generation of crane systems. In both cases, Rheinmetall supplies the protected driver’s cabs and crane cabs.

Thanks to its four-axle, all-terrain-capable chassis and 330-kW Liebherr six-cylinder diesel-powered engine with maximum torque of 2335 Nm, the G-LTM 1090-4.2 is a powerful off-road performer. The vehicle’s 35.7-meter-long telescopic boom can lift loads of up to 36.6 tons. It has a top speed of 85 km/h.

Another key development priority was crew protection. Here Liebherr and the Bundeswehr cooperated with Rheinmetall right from the start. Built by Rheinmetall, the driver’s cab protects the crew from ballistic threats, mines and IEDs, and also features an NBC ventilation system. The crane cab protects the crane operator from ballistic fire during crane operations. The cabs of the G-LTM and G-BKF are identical in design.

In 2017 Liebherr turned to Rheinmetall to supply protected driver cabs and crane cabs for the Bundeswehr’s new generation of crane vehicles. In all, Rheinmetall supplied protected driver’s cabs and crane cabs for 38 newly developed G-LTM protected mobile cranes as well as 33 for the equally new G-BKF protected recovery crane. The orders are worth a figure in the mid double-digit million-euro range. Delivery will be complete in 2021.

The project exemplifies the excellent cooperation between the defence industry and the Federal Office for Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-service Support (BAAINBw). Thanks to integrated verification management, the development cycle was very short: the project began in 2013, a demonstrator version was up and running by 2015, with full-scale production commencing in 2018.

The G-LTM 1090-4.2 was not just on show at Eurosatory – instead, Rheinmetall is putting the high-performance mobile crane to work, assembling and disassembling its pavilion. In addition, it was be used for the first time to refit the new Rheinmetall Lynx KF 41 combat vehicle on display at this year’s Eurosatory.