Thai Army Tests Tatra 4x4 Military Truck Prototype.

The Defense Technology Institute (DTI) of Thailand, in collaboration with the Ordnance Materiel Rebuild Center (OMRC) of the Ordnance Department, Royal Thai Army (RTA), has recently conducted tests and evaluations of a 4x4 military truck prototype with an independent suspension system. This prototype is based on the Czech Tatra 815-7 heavy military truck. The tests were carried out at the tactical training grounds of the 2nd Infantry Division Queen's Guard in Prachinburi Province.
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Tatra heavy trucks are already used as the base chassis for several Thai-developed and serviced weapon systems in the Royal Thai Army (Picture source: Defence Technology Institute)

The OMRC conducted the testing of this 4x4 military truck prototype, developed by DTI, at multiple locations. This included the training ground of the 2nd Infantry Division Queen's Guard and the vehicle testing grounds of the Army Transportation Department in Kanchanaburi Province, from September 2 to 4, 2024. Images released by DTI on social media on September 6, 2024, show that the prototype is inspired by the Tatra 815-7 series of heavy military trucks from the Czech company Tatra. The vehicle features a trapezoidal and hemispherical rear cargo compartment, presumably designed to enhance protection against improvised explosive devices and small-caliber bullets at a light armor level.

Tatra heavy trucks are already used as the base chassis for several Thai-developed and serviced weapon systems in the Royal Thai Army. These include the 155mm M758 ATMG (Autonomous Truck-Mounted Gun) self-propelled artillery, which is mounted on a Tatra 6x6 10-ton chassis, as well as the prototype D11A multi-purpose multiple rocket launcher vehicle, also based on a Tatra 6x6 10-ton truck, both developed by DTI Thailand. The Royal Thai Army has expressed a need to acquire 4x4 trucks with a capacity between 1.25 and 2.5 tonnes to replace older vehicles that have been in service for many years.

Currently, the Royal Thai Army uses various types of 4x4 trucks. These include the German UNIMOG U1100 L/29 4x4 truck with a 1.25-ton capacity, which has been in service for an extended period, and the Japanese Isuzu FTS 33 H2E 4x4 truck with a 2.5-ton capacity, a civilian model with certain limitations for tactical operations, such as an inability to drive through floodwaters. Additionally, the Indian Tata LPTA 715/32 TC 4x4 truck, with a capacity of 1.25 tonnes, has encountered some maintenance issues during its service.