Drive and Control Technology for the Defense Industry

The long-term storage of hydraulic systems for military applications presents a significant technical challenge. Defense assets such as vehicles or weapon systems often need to be stored for years or even decades while retaining their full functionality under extreme climatic conditions. In an emergency, immediate and 100% operational readiness is essential.

Bosch Rexroth addresses these high demands with a holistic approach based on three central pillars:

1. Robust Surface Protection Against Corrosion and Wear
Military equipment is exposed to extreme environmental influences such as moisture, saltwater, and large temperature fluctuations. Conventional protective coatings for hydraulic components, such as those on cylinder rods, can become brittle and flake off during long storage periods or under mechanical stress.

• Painting and Surface Protection

2. Systemic Sealing and Preservation
During storage, the ingress of moisture and dirt particles must be reliably prevented.

• High-Quality Sealing Systems: Bosch Rexroth places the utmost importance on the selection and design of seals that retain their function even when in contact with the sometimes aggressive, low-viscosity NATO hydraulic oils.
• Professional Preservation: Before storage, the hydraulic systems are professionally filled and sealed. This includes comprehensive corrosion protection for the entire system to guarantee full performance from the very first moment of deployment.

By combining resilient materials, state-of-the-art surface technologies, and the use of operating fluids specifically qualified for military use, Bosch Rexroth ensures that our hydraulic components and systems reliably fulfill their mission even after long and demanding storage.

In modern defense technology, the terms COTS (Commercial Off-The-Shelf) and MOTS (Military/Modified Off-The-Shelf) are of central strategic importance. They describe an approach aimed at closing the gap between fast-paced commercial technology development and the extreme requirements of military deployment. Bosch Rexroth has perfected this approach and uses it to offer armed forces and system manufacturers worldwide superior and sustainable solutions.

COTS (Commercial Off-The-Shelf): The Foundation from Industry
COTS refers to the use of standardized, commercially available products produced in large quantities for the civilian market.

• Advantages: The use of COTS components offers significant benefits, including lower costs, high technological maturity from millions of uses in industry, worldwide availability, and faster integration.
• Challenge: Pure COTS products are often not robust enough to withstand the specific military requirements for shock resistance, vibration resistance, temperature ranges (-40 °C to +80 °C), or compatibility with military operating fluids.

MOTS (Military/Modified Off-The-Shelf): The Intelligent Adaptation
This is where a special competence of Bosch Rexroth lies. MOTS is the targeted modification and qualification of a proven COTS product for military use. We take a technologically mature component from our vast industrial portfolio and modify it specifically for defense technology.

• The Bosch Rexroth Approach: Instead of developing a product from scratch, our experts analyze the specific requirements of the military application and adapt an existing serial product precisely. Examples of modifications include:
  • Material Adaptation: Use of special sealing materials compatible with NATO-specific hydraulic oils.
  • Surface Protection: Application of resistant coatings that meet extreme corrosion requirements.
  • EMC Optimization: Ensuring electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and protection against voltage spikes.
  • Qualification and Tests: Conducting rigorous testing procedures according to military standards to prove reliability under extreme conditions.

The Decisive Advantage: The Best of Both Worlds
The MOTS strategy from Bosch Rexroth offers our customers crucial advantages:

• Cost-Effectiveness and Security of Supply: By using serial components, our customers benefit from the cost advantages of mass production and the global logistics of Bosch Rexroth.
• Technological Edge: Military programs gain access to the latest innovations from civilian industry that have already proven their reliability.
• Minimized Development Risk: Instead of relying on expensive and lengthy new developments, a proven technological base is used. The modifications are targeted, and the qualification process is transparent.
• Proven Reliability: A product that has already proven itself in thousands of construction machines or industrial plants provides a solid foundation for reliability in the field.

Through the intelligent combination of a vast COTS portfolio and decades of engineering expertise in the MOTS approach, Bosch Rexroth positions itself as a strategic partner that unites technological superiority, robustness, and cost-effectiveness in defense technology.

AQAP 2110 is the highest quality management standard of NATO for the defense industry. The abbreviation stands for "Allied Quality Assurance Publications". This certification is far more than just a quality label; it is an internationally recognized seal of approval that proves a company meets the strictest requirements for the design, development, and production of defense goods.
We are proud that our specialized defense technology department at the Lohr am Main site is certified to this demanding standard. This underscores our unconditional commitment to the highest quality and reliability.

What does AQAP 2110 certification mean in practice?
AQAP 2110 is based on the internationally known ISO 9001 standard but goes crucial steps further by imposing additional, military-specific requirements. For our customers, this means:

• Comprehensive Quality Management Across the Entire Lifecycle: he certification covers not only manufacturing but the complete process—from the initial idea through development and design to production and delivery. Every single step is planned, documented, and monitored according to the strictest criteria.
• Risk Management and Configuration Control: A central aspect of AQAP 2110 is the systematic identification and minimization of risks. Furthermore, rigorous configuration management is required. This ensures that every technical change to a product is controlled, documented, and traceable. For the customer, this means the certainty that the delivered product exactly corresponds to the specified and qualified version.
• Proof of Reliability and Safety: The standard demands detailed evidence of the products' reliability and safety. This is of fundamental importance in the defense sector, where the flawless functioning of systems can decide the success of a mission and the safety of human lives.

The Added Value for Our Customers
The certification of our defense technology department in Lohr according to AQAP 2110 offers our partners and customers tangible benefits:

• Trust and Interoperability: As an AQAP 2110 certified supplier, we are a recognized partner for all NATO armed forces and their contractors. This simplifies cooperation in international projects and creates a common basis of trust.
• Guaranteed Process Reliability: Our customers can rely on our internal processes meeting the highest military standards. This reduces risk on the customer side and minimizes the need for additional, customer-specific audits.
• A Clear Commitment to Excellence: The certification is not a one-time event but a continuous commitment. Regular audits ensure that we not only maintain our high level of quality but constantly develop it further.

With the AQAP 2110 certification, Bosch Rexroth documents its claim to deliver not only technologically leading but also demonstrably safe, reliable, and high-quality drive and control solutions for the most demanding applications in the world.