DAF military trucks developed with Czech manufacturer Tatra could offer an opportunity for future assembly at Leyland Trucks in Lancashire.

The collaboration combines DAF engines, gearboxes and support services with Tatra’s specialist off-road chassis technology. It offers vehicles configured for military transport, cargo handling and recovery operations.

DAF identifies potential local assembly as part of its offer to national defence customers. The information sheet does not announce a UK military order or a confirmed production programme at Leyland.

The manufacturers also presented the partnership at September’s DVD2026 defence exhibition at UTAC Millbrook. DAF’s published programme included 6×6 and 8×8 vehicles, with demonstrations planned on the venue’s off-road test track.

Tatra chassis technology

The DAF military trucks use Tatra’s all-wheel-drive driveline and central backbone tube chassis.

Independently suspended swinging half axles form another part of the design. These allow individual wheels to move as the truck crosses uneven ground.

The vehicles also feature a central tyre inflation system. This allows tyre pressures to suit different operating conditions, supporting traction away from surfaced roads.

DAF says the combination provides off-road capability and driver comfort in demanding terrain. The design targets operations where conventional road-going chassis would face limitations.

The partnership divides responsibility between the two manufacturers. DAF supplies the engine, gearbox and cab, alongside sales, servicing, parts and logistics support.

Tatra contributes its heavy-duty off-road chassis expertise and ballistic cab capability. That allows customers to specify vehicles around the terrain, protection and transport demands of military service.

Configurations from 4×4 to 10×10

Available all-wheel-drive configurations include 4×4, 6×6, 8×8 and 10×10.

Customers can specify rigid trucks with cargo bodies, cranes, hook lifts or flatbeds. The range also includes an 8×8 heavy tractor unit for recovering disabled vehicles during military operations.

The manufacturers build vehicles to order, matching specifications to the requirements of individual national ministries of defence.

This approach covers different transport roles within the same collaboration. Cargo carrying, container handling and vehicle recovery each place different demands on chassis, bodywork and equipment.

The partnership has already completed deliveries of more than 900 military trucks for the Belgian Ministry of Defence. Those deliveries included 4×4 and 8×8 vehicles.

That established programme provides a reference for the manufacturers’ efforts to attract further defence customers, including in the UK.

Potential production at Leyland

Leyland Trucks produces around 15,000 vehicles annually, covering the civilian DAF range.

Almost every DAF vehicle registered in the UK comes from the Lancashire factory. Around one-third of its annual production goes to approximately 40 export markets.

DAF presents potential assembly of military vehicles at Leyland as an additional element of the partnership’s offer.

Nigel Beckett, DAF Trucks’ managing director for the UK and Ireland, said: “DAF has, for decades, been market leading in the UK, supplying trucks for a host of demanding applications.”

He added: “This collaboration with Tatra, which is already delivering military all-wheel-drive vehicles into countries such as Belgium, now provides an exciting opportunity to extend our knowledge and expertise to support the UK forces with capable machinery that can tackle the most hostile environments.”

DAF is a subsidiary of PACCAR. Its UK business operates from Haddenham, Buckinghamshire, and held 29.7% of the UK market above six tonnes GVW in 2025.

Its dealer network comprises 136 locations across the UK and Ireland, supporting vehicle servicing and parts supply.

For prospective defence customers, the DAF military trucks offer combines specialist chassis engineering with an established commercial vehicle support network. Any future UK assembly programme would require a confirmed agreement beyond the opportunity outlined in the information sheet.

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