Dutch armed forces received the final 11 of 46 Anaconda light tactical vehicles on 7 April. The first 35 were delivered to troops in the Dutch Antilles on 31 January, about six months after the contract was signed.
The formal light tactical vehicle requirement traces to January 2018, with a tender released by the Dutch Defense Materiel Organisation (DMO) on 15 May 2018. A deadline for initial responses was 11 June and five responses had been received when the tender closed on 29 June. The DMO declined to disclose the respondents, citing confidentiality.
On 11 July 2018 Dutch armed forces announced a decision to award the contract to Dutch Military Vehicles (DMV). DMV, which is a division of Dutch Iveco/Fiat main dealer DEBA Bedrijfswagens, was established in the same year to respond to the tender. The contract was signed on 2 August 2018 and included a separate 10-year maintenance award. There are no contract options.
The Anaconda is based on a 7-tonne gross vehicle weight-rated (GVWR) Iveco Daily commercial van chassis that is modified, militarised, and converted to a four-wheel drive configuration by Austria’s Achleitner.
Dutch armed forces have received its full order of Anaconda light tactical vehicles. (DMV)
The conventional 3.45 m wheelbase C-section ladder frame-type chassis is lengthened by 10 cm to a 3.55 m wheelbase. The standard rear drive axle and leaf spring suspension is retained, but the front axle and suspension is replaced by a 2.5-tonne rated Achleitner independent torsion bar sprung units. The front and rear axles are fitted with driver-controlled differential locks. Technically the GVWR of the Anaconda is 7.1 tonnes, but this is limited to 6.1 tonnes primarily by the single rear wheels and LT315/75 R 16 cross-country tyres.
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