Poland to build 45 heavy recovery vehicles for Sweden on Scania chassis
Photo: Special-purpose vehicles for Sweden (Szczęśniak Special Vehicles)
The Swedish Armed Forces will receive 45 heavy armored recovery and evacuation vehicles, designed and manufactured entirely in Poland, according to Defence Blog.
What new recovery vehicle can do
The vehicle is capable of towing military passenger cars, trucks, and buses, as well as pulling trailers weighing up to 38 metric tons at speeds of at least 40 km/h on paved roads. When coupled with a trailer, the vehicle can transport loads weighing up to 70 metric tons—enough to evacuate even the heaviest wheeled and tracked vehicles, including damaged armored personnel carriers.
The hydraulic system is handled by a lifting and towing device that allows the damaged vehicle to be towed in a semi-raised position. Essentially, it grips the vehicle by its wheels, axle, or standard recovery points, rather than dragging it along the ground.
In the short boom configuration, the system can handle up to 16 metric tons; in exceptional cases, up to 20 metric tons; and with the boom fully extended, approximately 9 metric tons. A separate winch from the Swedish manufacturer Sepson transmits force directly to the chassis frame rather than through the superstructure, which is designed to maintain the vehicle’s stability during heavy dynamic loads.
How Poland won contract from Swedish manufacturer
Dariusze Nalepa Szczęśniak, Director of Military Projects, called the contract an example of cooperation among Polish companies for a demanding foreign customer. According to him, despite the Swedish client's high requirements, the company managed to design, manufacture, and conduct operational tests of the heavy recovery vehicle in approximately 12 months.
The Military Institute of Armored and Automotive Technology in Sulejówek, a Polish research institution that evaluates the stability, maneuverability, and evacuation capabilities of military equipment, conducted tests on the vehicle’s design and performance.
Krzysztof Kotorowicz, a key representative of PONAR Wadowice, noted that most of the vehicle’s components are not off-the-shelf solutions, but rather designs created specifically for this program by engineers from both companies.
Marek Warzecha, President of the Management Board of PONAR Wadowice, added that the collaboration demonstrated what can be achieved by combining expertise in hydraulics with Szczęśniak's experience in developing specialized equipment for emergency services, the military, and fire departments.
The contract with Sweden is part of a four-year framework agreement signed in February 2025 for the first 10 vehicles, which was expanded in March 2026 to include an additional 35 units.
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