Czech army receives first Hyundai HL960A loaders in Bechyně

The Czech army has received its first Hyundai HL960A wheel loaders. They were handed over in a ceremony to the crew of the 15th Engineer Regiment in Bechyně. The purchase is part of a broader modernisation of the army's engineering equipment.

The outgoing KN-251 machines, a military version of the civilian UN-053 loader from the Slovak company PPS Detva, have been an integral part of the engineer troops for decades. These loaders, weighing almost 25 tonnes and powered by a 169 kW six-cylinder Liaz engine, helped with earthworks, road building and the preparation of positions.

After almost half a century of service, the army is moving to more modern equipment. The Hyundai HL960A has a comparable engine output of 168 kW (about 225 horsepower), but a lower operating weight of around 19.2 tonnes. It also offers modern hydraulics, electronic systems and a more comfortable operator's cab. Its breakout force of almost 16.7 tonnes is above average for a loader in this class, so the machines can handle heavy work with soil and crushed stone. All-wheel drive lets them move over difficult terrain.

According to the army, the new loaders will be used for earthworks, for building and maintaining infrastructure, and for dealing with the aftermath of emergencies. Such equipment is also increasingly important on the modern battlefield: the experience of recent conflicts shows that the ability to quickly build defensive positions, reshape terrain and keep roads passable is one of the conditions for successful operations.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz