Rolls-Royce and ZF to develop drive system for European MGCS tank

Since the beginning of the year, news of development and supply agreements for military systems has been flooding in from the European powertrain industry, particularly from Germany. We recently covered the joint project between Rolls-Royce Power Systems and the Polish firm PGZ. Now, it is the turn of two giants who not only speak the same language but also share the same roots: Rolls-Royce itself (aka mtu) and ZF. From Friedrichshafen, they report that the German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) has commissioned Rolls-Royce Power Systems to develop the drive system for the European Main Ground Combat System (MGCS).

ZF and Rolls-Royce for the world’s first paralle-hybrid drive

Rolls-Royce Power Systems and ZF are developing the world’s first parallel-hybrid drive for heavy military tracked vehicles. Preliminary tests show further potential: a newly developed electrified powershift steering transmission with stepless superimposition makes manoeuvres more agile and increases efficiency. A hybridized cooling system also represents an innovation. Together with an adaptively controlled engine, it significantly increases overall efficiency. At the same time, the main drive requires little installation space and has favourable weight characteristics. As a result, Rolls-Royce Power Systems, as general contractor, and ZF, as subcontractor, are contributing to the development of a powerful, efficient, compact and agile combat vehicle.

“Europe needs a strong and reliable defence architecture to secure its defence capabilities in the long-term. Our propulsion system is a robust and powerful building block for this, designed for current and future mission profiles. It strengthens the operational capabilities of European armed forces, increases operational reliability and, at the same time, helps to anchor technological expertise and industrial value creation in Europe in the long-term,” said Jörg Stratmann, CEO of Rolls-Royce Power Systems AG.

“With the Main Ground Combat System, the European partner nations are investing in modern defense technology and also in the long-term stability and ability to act of a defensive democracy in Europe,” said ZF Board of Management member Andreas Moser. “We are proud to make an important contribution to a compact and powerful drive module with an innovative, electrified powershift transmission to give the vehicles the necessary mobility and responsiveness.”

At the heart of the MGCS drive system is a newly developed 10-cylinder engine from the mtu Series 199 – a high-performance engine designed for extreme load shifting, driving dynamics, special military requirements and the increased electrical energy requirements of future combat vehicles. With around 1,100 kW of mechanical power, it delivers the majority of the hybrid powerpack’s system output of over 1,400 kW and is working for the first time in a heavy tracked vehicle as part of a hybrid drive in parallel design. The engine combines modern electronics with the robustness that the battlefield demands. It relies on a particularly robust injection system that is capable of running on multiple fuels and can cope with low-quality fuel.

The cooling system offers reserves for additional electrical consumers. The Military-Off-The-Shelf (MOTS) approach taken with the 199 series enables the creation of a resilient and scalable supply chain. The first Powerpack prototypes are to be tested before the end of this decade with series production possible from the early 2030s.

The 10V 199 remains closely related to existing variants such as the 8V 199. This technical proximity facilitates logistics and supply chain access. Added to this is the engine’s strong pedigree, with over 4,500 Series 199 engines having proven themselves worldwide.