One of the highlights at the AUSA 2025 International Exhibition, held from October 13 to 15 in Washington, D.C., was the wide range of proposals aimed at modernizing the capabilities of the United States Army. Among the programs drawing significant industry attention is the so-called Common Tactical Truck (CTT), through which the service seeks to acquire a new common platform of utility trucks. In this context, Mack Defense—one of the companies positioning itself for the program—presented its new Pioneer truck at the event.
Mack Defense is currently one of the leading companies in the segment of commercial transport vehicles adapted for military use. This is demonstrated by the recent contract awarded by the U.S. Army for the acquisition of M917A3 heavy dump trucks, adding to more than 500 units delivered to date.
The company, a subsidiary of Mack Trucks and part of the Volvo Group, also seeks to strengthen its position within the CTT Program, competing with other firms such as American Rheinmetall, Oshkosh, and Navistar.
The importance of such programs is far from minor for the U.S. Army, which officially states that the CTT Program aims to provide “a critical transportation link between strategic ports and the tip of the spear, enabling Multi-Domain Operations forces to deploy, move, and maneuver where and when needed to accomplish the mission.”
To this end, Mack Defense builds its proposal upon the company’s long-standing experience and production capacity to “militarize” commercial trucks according to the operational requirements of the force. The company leverages a broad network of research, development, and Tier 1 suppliers, ensuring continuous innovation, parts availability, and economies of scale.
This research focus also emphasizes the development of electrification and hybrid solutions (such as regenerative braking and exportable power), aligning with the Army’s new demands for energy efficiency, autonomy, and reduced logistical footprint.
“Mack Defense has long supported the United States Armed Forces, providing equipment on the battlefield since World War I,” said David Hartzell, President of Mack Defense. “We offer a unique capability to these customers through commercial innovation, internal investment, and superior products that help our warfighters WIN. The Mack Pioneer represents the wide range of commercial technologies available to the U.S. Armed Forces as they seek to modernize their tactical vehicle fleet with militarized commercial solutions,” he added.
Photos: Zona Militar.
