JCB HMEE
JCB HMEE
HMEE with slat armor
TypeBackhoe loader
Place of originUnited KingdomUnited States
Service history
Used byAustralia, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Israel, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States
WarsWar in AfghanistanRussian invasion of Ukraine
Production history
ManufacturerJCB
Produced2007–present[1]
No. built>900 (as of 2020)[2]
Specifications
Mass
  • A-kit: 14,125 kg (31,140 lb)
  • B-kit: 15,959 kg (35,184 lb)
  • C-kit: 16,180 kg (35,670 lb)[3]
Length9.45 to 10.10 m (372 to 398 in) 6x6: 6.9 m (270 in)
Width2.44 m (96 in) (shovel)2.95 m (116 in) (with armour)
Height3.89 m (153 in) (driving)2.67 m (105 in) (for transport)
Crew1 or 2
Armor
  • A-kit: standard unprotected
  • B-kit: applique and transparent armour
  • C-kit (Theatre Entry Standard): blast mitigation belly plate, internal spall liner, slat armour, capacity for electronic counter-measures and situational awareness.
EngineCummins 6.7 QSB149 kW (203 PS)705 N⋅m (520 lb⋅ft)
TransmissionZF Ergopower transmission(6 gears forward, 2 backwards)
Ground clearance0.4 m (16 in)
Operationalrange
650 km (400 mi)180 L (48 US gal) of fuel
Maximum speed
  • A-kit: 96 km/h (60 mph)[4]
  • C-kit: 65 km/h (40 mph)[5]
HMEE, prepared for shipping

The JCB HMEE (High Mobility Engineer Excavator) is a military engineering vehicle made by JCB.[6]

Design

The HMEE is an armoured backhoe loader designed for high speeds in order to self-deploy with military convoys. Most backhoes are limited to much lower speeds.[7] It is also capable of towing heavy loads and has good off-road mobility. It is based on technology from the JCB Fastrac tractors.[8]

The programme started in 2003. JCB used technologies of the JCB 4CX backhoe Loader and the Fastrac tractors to develop this system.[9]

The HMEE is built at JCB's plant in Pooler, Georgia, integrating armour made by American Defense Systems (ASDI).[10]

Users

Current operators

Australia (10)
Ordered in two batches, 6, which were delivered by 2012.[11] A further order for four machines took place in 2017.[12]
Belgium (4)
As part of the programme ACEV (Armoured Combat Engineer Vehicle), JCB won a contract of €5 million to supply 4 HMEE in December 2020.[13]
Denmark (6)
6 machines received in March 2020.[14][15]
Germany (1)
7 were purchased in 2013.[16]
6 were donated to Ukraine as aid in its war against the Russian Invasion.[17]
Ireland (1)
1 purchased, and used for the UNIFIL mission of the Army.[18]
Israel (unknown quantity)
New Zealand (6)
The Army received 6 vehicles in 2011.[19]
Spain (10 in service, 42 on order)
The Spanish Army received a first batch of 2 HMEE with the armour B-kit, in July 2018, after an order in 2017.[20][21] In 2024, two batches of 4 HMEE were delivered as a part of an order of 50 of these machines placed in 2023.[22][23]
Sweden (10)
The FMV ordered 10 HMEE in 2008, for an entry in service in 2012.[24]
Ukraine (6)
6 donated by Germany.[17][25]
United Arab Emirates (unknown)
Unknown quantity.[26]
United Kingdom (17)
The British Army placed an order for 4 HMEE in 2008 for its use in Afghanistan (£7 million).[24]
13 vehicles ordered by the British Army in 2010.[27]
United States (around 1,600)
In 2005, JCB was selected to produce what at the time was estimated to be 636 machines for $209 million.[28] Firm orders:
  • 2008: $229 million for 800 HMEE, as the first production contract.[29]
  • June 2014: second production order, with a contract valued at $50 million (unknown quantity).[30][31]
  • September 2017: 98 ($36.3 million)[32][26]
  • September 2018: contract extension for 180 more HMEE[28]
  • July 2020: 400 HMEE for the US Armed Forces ($269 million), delivery over 8 years.[33]

References

  1. ^"Swedish army buys JCB high-speed loaders". Retrieved 2025-02-06.
  2. ^"Six fast backhoes for the Danish Armed Forces".
  3. ^"HIGH MOBILITY ENGINEER EXCAVATOR"(PDF). Retrieved 2025-02-06.
  4. ^"High Mobility Engineer Excavator".
  5. ^"HIGH MOBILITY ENGINEER EXCAVATOR"(PDF). Retrieved 2025-02-06.
  6. ^"IDEX Show Scout » IDEX 2007: Video highlight – JCB HMEE backhoe-loader". Retrieved 2011-01-05.
  7. ^"JCB Defence"(PDF). Archived from the original(PDF) on 2011-08-10. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
  8. ^"BATTLESPACE - In this issue". Archived from the original on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
  9. ^"JCB High-Mobility Engineer Excavator Type I". Army Technology. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
  10. ^"2010 Army Weapon Systems : High Mobility Engineer Excavator (HMEE)"(PDF). United States Army. p. 133 – via Federation of American Scientists.
  11. ^"Force Protection: The fight against IEDs | ADM July 2012 - Australian Defence Magazine". www.australiandefence.com.au. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
  12. ^"High Mobility Engineer Excavators". Archived from the original on 2019-02-16. Retrieved 2019-02-15.
  13. ^Gain, Nathan (2020-12-14). "JCB fournira des engins de génie blindés à la Défense belge". FOB - Forces Operations Blog (in French). Retrieved 2025-02-06.
  14. ^"Seks hurtige rendegravere til Forsvaret". www.maskinteknik.dk (in Danish). 2020-03-25. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
  15. ^CMS. "Forsvaret indkøber seks hurtige JCB rendegravere". effektivtlandbrug.landbrugnet.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 2025-02-06.
  16. ^"Hochmobiler Geschützter Baggerlader". www.bundeswehr.de (in German). Retrieved 2025-02-06.
  17. ^ ab"Military support for Ukraine | Federal Government". Website of the Federal Government | Bundesregierung. 2025-01-14. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
  18. ^"Irish Defence Forces Naval Service Air Corps Army Recruitment Updates 25 March". careersportal.ie. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
  19. ^"JCB HMEE's Are The Newest Recruits Of The Royal New Zealand Army « JCB – The Dirt". Archived from the original on 2012-09-07. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
  20. ^"JCB". www.jcb.com (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2025-02-06.
  21. ^Defensa.com (2017-11-13). "El Ejército de Tierra adquiere dos excavadoras blindadas JCB-noticia defensa.com - Noticias Defensa España". Defensa.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-02-06.
  22. ^"WALKIA JCB REFUERZA AL EJÉRCITO DE TIERRA ESPAÑOL CON 4 UNIDADES DE LA". Walkia JCB (in Spanish). 2024-02-14. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
  23. ^Defensa.com (2023-04-06). "Importante adquisición de retroexcavadoras blindadas para el Ejército - Noticias Defensa España". Defensa.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-02-06.
  24. ^ ab"Swedish army buys JCB high-speed loaders". Construction Enquirer. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
  25. ^"До використання у ЗСУ допустили броньований екскаватор JCB HMEE". ua.korrespondent.net (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-11-30.
  26. ^ abKeller, John (2017-09-20). "Army orders 98 new armored backhoe construction vehicles and vetronics in $36.3 million order". Military Aerospace. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
  27. ^WWL ships JCB military excavators to the UKArchived 2014-03-06 at the Wayback Machine
  28. ^ ab"JCB wins extension on HMEE production contract with U.S. Department of Defense". Heavy Equipment Guide. 2018-09-26. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
  29. ^"JCB Enters $229 Million Contract with U.S. Army". Rental Equipment Register. 2008-01-18. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
  30. ^Media, Forester (2014-06-30). "JCB Wins $50 Million US Army Contract for High-Speed Backhoes". Grading and Excavating. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
  31. ^"JCB at work on 3 more military projects following success of HMEE high-speed, armored backhoe". Equipment World. 2015-07-22. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
  32. ^Malyasov, Dylan (2018-09-25). "U.S. Army orders more High Mobility Engineer Excavator Type-1 vehicles". defence-blog.com. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
  33. ^"NORTH AMERICAN PLANT GEARS UP AS JCB SECURES NEW MILITARY DEAL". www.jcb.com. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
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