Saab-Scania SBA 111

   Design work on the Saab-Scania SBA 111 4 x 4 and SBAT 111S 6 x 6 trucks began during the late 1960s and the first prototypes appeared during 1971, production commenced in 1976.

   The two vehicles were designed to be the main tactical trucks of the Swedish armed forces and over 2500 were delivered to the Swedish Army alone, more went to the Swedish air force and navy. The two vehicles share many components (there is 90% parts commonality), such as the forward control cab, with the main difference, apart from the extra axle and enlarged cargo area, being that the 6 x 6 uses a turbocharged engine.

   In both 4 x 4 and 6 x 6 versions, the cargo carrier is the main version, the 4 x 4 being able to carry 4 500 kg across country and the 6 x 6 6 000 kg; road payloads are 6 000 kg and 9 000 kg respectively. Hydraulic materials handling cranes are fitted to some vehicles. Numbers of SBAT 111S trucks are used to tow 155 mm FH-77A field howitzers and 120 mm KARIN coast defense guns; at least 600 slightly modified SBAT 111S trucks have been exported to India to tow and support 155 mm FH-77B field howitzers. The artillery tractors have a crew shelter on the cargo area.

   Other variants include SBAT 111S chassis modified to carry shelters for the Giraffe radar system; these vehicles have four stabilizer jacks which are lowered when the radar arm is elevated. Crash rescue variants are used by the Royal Swedish Air Force and SBA 111s are used by the same service for snow clearing. Finland also uses a small number or 4 x 4 SBA 111s.