JCB Construction Equipment last week announced it is developing a 60-mph, state-of-the-art JCB High Mobility Engineer Excavator (HMEE), purpose-built for the U.S. Army and destined for deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan, where it will provide battlefield commanders with a myriad of logistics capabilities in front patrols. The HMEE will be built at JCB’s headquarters in Savannah, Ga. JCB’s production contract with the U.S. Army is worth an estimated $209 million for 800 JCB HMEE military machines.
The JCB HMEE comes complete with full suspension and ABS braking technology, computer diagnostics, run-flat tires, roll-over protection and a two-man air-conditioned cab. Additionally, the vehicle can be used on both paved road and cross-country surfaces. The HMEE is designed to provide strategic capabilities increasing: mobility — opening up roads; counter-mobility — creating obstacles for the enemy; and, survivability — providing water and supplies, building burms, laying electrical lines. The project will be led by Chris Saucedo, Marine and general manager of the Military Products Division.
JCB has 17 manufacturing plants on four continents. It manufactures more than 279 distinct machines including: backhoe loaders, Loadall telescopic handlers, tracked and wheeled excavators, wheeled loading shovels, articulated dump trucks, rough-terrain fork lifts, mini excavators, skid-steers loaders, JCB Vibromax compaction equipment and ground-care equipment.
