SOFINS 2025 – Technamm proposes its Masstech DC4 as replacement for French ageing P4 jeeps
At SOFINS 2025 Technamm, the French company specialised in developing light military vehicles from commercial chassis, exhibited its Masstech DC4, which anticipates the need for the French Army to replace its legacy P4 jeeps
In the late 2010s Technamm already delivered 500 Masstech T4 light vehicles to the Armée de Terre as interim replacement for the P4s. With a fully closed cabin with two doors per side, it could be equipped with wire mesh protection for the ample glass surfaces, the vehicle being often used by French Army units in “Opération Sentinelle”, the Army contribution to the country protection against terrorism. The Masstech T4 is based on a Toyota Land Cruiser HZJ 76, has a maximum mass of 3.5 tonnes, can carry up to five soldiers.
The Masstech T4 answered only in part t the VLTP NP (Véhicule Léger Tactiques Polyvalents Non Protégés or Lightweight Multipurpose Tactical Vehicles Non-Protected) French Army requirement, hence the decision of the Aix-en-Provence based company to evolve the concept, this time using a Toyota Land Cruiser Series 79 chassis.
The Technamm experts made it immediately clear that the Masstech DC4 is not a combat vehicle, the basic version being unarmoured. Compared to the T4 the DC4 still features a four-door cabin, however an open flatbed is available at the rear, which makes the vehicle more tactical as that space can be used to carry several types of loads; a series of ribs and a canvas cover allow to hide the load. To leave maximum room in the cabin, radios are installed at the back, only the command panel being inside the cabin. With a curb mass of 2.5 tonnes and a maximum mass on road of 3.5 tonnes, the DC4 can carry a 1 tonne payload.
The standard powerpack is based on a 1HZ 4.2litres 6-cylinders in-line diesel engine providing 130 hp (96kW) with a 285 Nm maximum torque; should the customer prefer more power, the turbo plus intercooler version is available, output increasing to 195 hp (143 kW) and torque to 420 Nm. The Masstech DC4 is 5,35 mm long, 1,800 mm wide and 1,975 mm high, and was developed using existing building blocks already available within the Technamm catalogue such as for example a ring mount, a black out system or the combination that allows to convert the lateral foot steps to become towing bar devices.
Although it was unveiled at SOFINS, the vehicle on exhibition being the very first prototype, first trials planned to start after the exhibition, the Masstech DC4 is not intended for Special Forces but, as previously said, Technamm is proposing it for replacing unprotected command and liaison vehicles in service with the French armed forces. As part of the qualification process, the company will qualify it also for air transport.
Photos by Technamm and P. Valpolini