Texelis outlines 6x6 Celeris and ongoing work on 8x8 variant at Eurosatory

Texelis has developed a new version of its Celeris mobility solution or rolling chassis, a 6x6 variant aimed at the armoured personnel carrier (APC) and infantry fighting vehicle end of the market with the advantage of a high level of commonality with the company’s Celeris 4x4.

The chassis is 1.45m longer than the length of the 4x4 which measures 6.5m and is designed to have a gross vehicle weight of 18-26t.

A company official told Shephard that the first customer for the 6x6 is from Asia which is for an APC and, despite declining to mention the specific country, Texelis has already sold the 4x4 version to Indonesia.

The company has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Indonesia’s PT Sentra Surya Ekajaya (PT SSE) to work on further development of the existing versions and a 8x8.

The 8x8 version is a bigger technological and engineering challenge but the official said “it is on the books and obviously it is more difficult but we are working on an 8x8 solution”.

The 8x8 is powered by a Cummins ISL9 engine driving a Allison 3200SP transmission and Texelis T750 axles to a maximum speed of 110km/h and handle a maximum slope of 60%.

Celeris builds on the 2,000 Serval vehicles being built for the French Army with Texelis providing the chassis.

The 8x8 wheeled vehicle market is a crowded place with more than a dozen companies making or promoting vehicles of the class including Otokar, FNSS, ARTEC with the Boxer, MOWAG, GDLS with Stryker and LAV, Patria and Oto Melara/IDV with the Freccia. There are also other companies offering rolling chassis solutions.

Texelis will be pushing the benefits of a long contract for Serval and other customers and the benefits for local industry in purchasing countries being able to provide systems and equipment including bodies, weapons and fit out of C2 systems.

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