Abstract: The drive system in tracked vehicles has to accomplish tasks which go far beyond the usual requirement of wheeled vehicles. Besides forward and backward propulsion and other tasks, it also assumes the safety-related functions of braking and steering. New studies investigating electrical transmission systems were started a few years ago. One result of this work was the development of the RENK Electro-Mechanical Transmission (EMT). This transmission belongs to the category of electric drives and offers specific advantages. Because of its few mechanical parts the EMT provides significant reductions in the power requirements of the electric motors and corresponding power electronics compared with 'purely' electric sprocket drive systems. This paper describes the basic ideas and the technology of the electro-mechanical transmission RENK EMT for future tracked vehicles.