Series 199: The power to protect | Rolls-Royce

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Our Governmental propulsion solutions are engineered to meet the increasing needs of today’s military vehicles.

Already, the mtu Series 199 engine family has set the global benchmark for reliability, power and efficiency in some of the most demanding environments – ensuring the performance, manoeuvrability and durability needed to support complex land defence operations.

Today, we continue to enhance our proven propulsion systems. By combining cutting-edge technologies with tangible economic benefits such as high fuel efficiency, low operating costs and ease of maintenance, we’re ensuring that the forces of tomorrow are powered by the innovations of today.

Engineered for extremes

Our high-performance mtu Series 199 diesel engines are the heartbeat of a wide range of armoured vehicles. They power everything from heavy-duty main battle tanks and infantry fighting vehicles to agile reconnaissance, patrol and personnel vehicles.

The secret to their success lies in their compact design and outstanding power-to-weight ratio – delivering enhanced mobility regardless of the terrain. They are purpose-built for maximum acceleration and agility, allowing vehicles to navigate obstacles with speed without ever compromising on performance.

The Series 199 is designed for the reality of the field. Their modular configuration, long service intervals and exceptional fuel efficiency mean troops spend less time dealing with maintenance and refuelling. Vehicles stay where they are needed most: in the mission.

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A success story for land defence

With thousands of units in service and decades of dedicated development experience, the Series 199 has written an unrivalled success story. Versions of this powerplant have proven themselves in various armored vehicles, among them the Spanish Pizarro, Austrian ULA+N, German Boxer and Polish OPAL vehicles. They are also set to power additional vehicles of NATO nations, such as the British Army’s Ajax and Boxer.

Today, the 6- and 8-cylinder variants are the trusted choice for some of the world’s most advanced platforms:

The Series 199 supports the growing need for greater mobility, flexibility and performance for today’s armed forces around the world.

The Boxer armoured transport vehicle and the mtu Series 199 have been a joint success story for years, with more than 2,000 Boxer vehicles ordered or already delivered powered by mtu 8V199 engines.

By expanding our mtu Series 199 engine family, we’re enabling increased power range for new vehicles and for the repowering of existing vehicles like the Leopard 1 tank.

When retrofitted with an 8-cylinder Series 199 engine, the tank benefits from a power output of 800 kW – making this is the most powerful drive ever installed in a Leopard 1 chassis and offering further potential for upgrading the vehicle.

A new generation of power

A new generation of power

The mtu Series 199, with outputs currently ranging from 260 to 800 kW, has proven its mettle internationally. With over 4,500 engines now delivered, it is the world’s most successful programme in its performance class, powering the armies of NATO members and allied states.

But we are not standing still. To meet the escalating performance requirements and budgetary realities of global armies, we’re expanding the Series 199 family to meet these challenges.

We are developing even more powerful variants: a 10-cylinder model delivering up to 1,100 kW and a 12-cylinder variant capable of exceeding 1,300 kW.

Investing in global security

As the demand for mtu land defense propulsion continues to grow, so does our commitment to production excellence. We are significantly investing in our manufacturing capabilities to ensure a steady supply of these critical propulsion systems for the armies of NATO members and allied states.

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