The Volvo FH16 6x6 battle tank carrier is one of a wide range of vehicles and logistics support resources designed to meet military requirements
				Modern mobility
	A prototype of the bullet-proof SafetyCab developed for the military version of the Volvo FM12
				Volvo continues to build on its experience of producing the heavy duty truck solutions to armed forces worldwide For leading truck producers the operational watchwords are always the same: quality, safety and environmental care. These values are reflected in the production systems, the products themselves and in the relationships with customers, employees and society in general. To be able to offer lifelong transport solutions, a considerable section of Volvo Truck Corporation is continuously developing a wide range of associated logistics support resources, some of which are based on leading-edge technology, making Volvo unique in the field of logistics support. Volvo is also one of the industry’s most global companies, having expanded their production facilities into more than 20 countries on six continents with nearly 1,600 workshops available all over the world. The diversity of products and services, designed and tailored to support the entire life cycle of a vehicle, are all fully recognised in the Volvo IVLS (integrated vehicle logistics support) programme. Volvo IVLS includes all relevant logistics support elements such as truck service agreements, parts supply, training, transport planning and technical documentation that will be tailored to meet individual requirements and conditions. The final IVLS solution is dependent on military organisation and mission profiles, but will enable vehicles and support functions to be useful in different service branches as well as in major joint ventures such as the operation in the former Yugoslavia. The IVLS programme on offer is based upon, and fully compatible with the necessary ILS features identified by the military logistics support analysis (LSA). Based on the truck’s specification, its train weight and operating conditions, it is possible to tailor an individual maintenance programme that will lay the foundation for fewer visits to the workshop, lower service costs and more time on the road. The new Volvo FM-series is designed to cover up to 75,000km between service intervals. The modern cab For a truck to be able to perform its intended task, it is necessary to ensure perfect interplay between thousands of technical components and one human being – the driver. Consequently a modern truck is built on the assumption that a good driver will become even better with a first-class tool at his disposal. The instrument panel features a window into the heart of the truck in the form of a display that gives the driver information about the vehicle’s status, and gives the owner and the mechanic an opportunity to monitor how the truck is being driven. A modern cab features a four-point suspension for a comfortable ride without annoying noise and vibration. This gives the driver a chance to maintain full attentiveness throughout his shift. The interior noise level is between three and five decibels lower then in its predecessors that means considerably lower noise perception. The heating and ventilation system offers a well-balanced distribution of air and a pleasant temperature inside the cab. To protect military truck crews from splinters, bullets and anti-personnel mines, cabs are covered with special protection material. To ensure high mobility, independent suspension on all wheels is mounted on the Volvo FL12 8x8 Engines and gearboxes Volvo also has launched its latest model series, the FM, a new range of drive-lines, all with a number of features designed to ensure low running costs and high productivity and so give more power from less energy. All engines feature a new type of engine-management system that permits extremely precise fuel injection and more efficient combustion. A lower frictional loss offers higher torque. The truck’s display unit gives the driver detailed information about fuel consumption, resulting in low fuel consumption, low exhaust emissions and high reliability. The new Volvo gearbox, the VT2014, requires 50 per cent less effort to change gears, thus offering excellent gear-changing comfort. The new type of clutch pedal also requires far less effort. And for gentle starts on slippery surfaces, Volvo have developed a fully automatic Powertronic gearbox. It offers a gentle, smooth gear-change and uniform power delivery to the driven wheels from the start – a major benefit in hilly terrain and on slippery surfaces. In many situations involving a massive transport mission such as in former Yugoslavia, many drivers are involved and several are not adequately trained, so an automatic gearbox is the perfect tool to keep transport moving without severe problems. Powertronic is also available with an integrated retarder that offers high braking capacity allied to reduced wear on the wheel brakes. Suspension To enter into the high mobility segment, independent suspension on all wheels is a necessity, and so this is provided on the Volvo FL12 8x8. This maintains better road contact and increased average speed as well as maximising traction, especially in marginal conditions, and again, to support drivers with less training. Depending on the particular application, wheel travel from 350mm to 500mm is available. Service and maintenance Military users are placing increasingly high demands on their vehicles’ productivity and availability, while trucks are becoming more technically complex with electronic systems and many customised versions. Volvo workshops have well-trained mechanics, good access to original parts, special tools and servicing information and through the Volvo truck training network this information is spread to military workshops. The bottleneck is in the administration and information management that servicing and repairs generate in all workshops. It takes time and resources to update and find details, time that could be used to deal with more customers and increase the jobs being tackled in the workshop. In the long term, this results in lower costs and increased workshop efficiency. In order to improve management in the workshops, Volvo has developed Impact, an IT-based system. This system gives access to parts and servicing information, vehicle specifications and a list of abbreviations, bulletins, jobs and modules that cater for options such as spares data particular to a given chassis, sheets and repair history via a single workstation. All of this uses simple search paths that are prepared for connection to our computer system. Optimum transport information Through experience of modern communications combined with knowledge of the conditions and requirements of commercial and military users, Volvo has been able to develop the integrated transport system called Dynafleet. Parallel with the new Volvo FM-series, a new version of the Dynafleet transport information system was introduced. This offers flexibility and scalability by virtue of its three-level operating structure and was particularly useful in Kosovo where mass transports with many transporters were involved. Level one is called the logger tool and displays advanced driver and vehicle information. The computer module gathers and saves information from engine management units, tachograph and load indicator at the same time as the driver gets this information directly on the dashboard. Driver information is stored on a driver’s smart card. Level two is called the communication tool and adds message processing between the traffic control function and vehicle. The driver enters messages on a wireless keyboard. A small GPS unit is also connected to the module to identify the position of the vehicle. This information is transmitted to home base and also can be sent directly to the Volvo action service in the event of a breakdown and a need for technical support. Level three, the information tool, includes a colour monitor that displays simple maps for using traffic information received via RDS/TMC (traffic message channel). This enables the driver to plot his position easily and so to avoid traffic queues, breakdowns and trouble spots. © The Volvo military product range
	"Volvo values are reflected in production systems, products and in relationships with customers"
	The Volvo N12 military construction version 2000
	Volvo fuel efficiency Fuel consumption has always been a priority for commercial and military vehicles. In the past 20 years, the fuel consumption of new trucks has been reduced by an average of 30 per cent. Volvo has identified methane as the main alternative to petrol and diesel. (The term methane is used to describe two gases – natural gas and bio-gas.) Although methane is the alternative fuel that offers the greatest potential at present, dimethyl ether (DME) may be an alternative in the longer term. DME produces very low emissions when burned, and can be manufactured from both fossil-based and biologically renewable raw material in an energy-efficient production process. To be able to produce fuel at a time when a nation is unable to import, is a potential benefit for many countries and could give DME an interesting future. Volvo is the first automotive manufacturer to develop a prototype DME engine that is undergoing field trials in a bus.
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