Engineering:JCB HMEE
From HandWiki
| JCB HMEE | |
|---|---|
HMEE with slat armor | |
| Type | Backhoe loader |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom United States |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Israel, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States |
| Wars | War in Afghanistan Russian invasion of Ukraine |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | JCB |
| Produced | 2007–present[1] |
| No. built | >900 (as of 2020)[2] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass |
|
| Length | 9.45 to 10.10 m (372 to 398 in) 6x6: 6.9 m (270 in) |
| Width | 2.44 m (96 in) (shovel) 2.95 m (116 in) (with armour) |
| Height | 3.89 m (153 in) (driving) 2.67 m (105 in) (for transport) |
| Crew | 1 or 2 |
| Armour |
|
| Engine | Cummins 6.7 QSB 149 kW (203 PS) 705 N⋅m (520 lb⋅ft) |
| Transmission | ZF Ergopower transmission (6 gears forward, 2 backwards) |
| Ground clearance | 0.4 m (16 in) |
Operational range | 650 km (400 mi) 180 L (48 US gal) of fuel |
| Speed | |

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
- ↑ "Swedish army buys JCB high-speed loaders". https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2010/12/16/swedish-army-buys-jcb-high-speed-loaders/. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
- ↑ "Six fast backhoes for the Danish Armed Forces". https://www.maskinteknik.dk/artikel/109734-seks-hurtige-rendegravere-til-forsvaret.
- ↑ "HIGH MOBILITY ENGINEER EXCAVATOR". https://www.ihsystems.pl/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/HMEE.pdf. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
- ↑ "High Mobility Engineer Excavator". https://www.jcb.com/en-sg/products/defense-products/high-mobility-engineer-excavator.
- ↑ "HIGH MOBILITY ENGINEER EXCAVATOR". https://www.ihsystems.pl/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/HMEE.pdf. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
- ↑ "IDEX Show Scout » IDEX 2007: Video highlight – JCB HMEE backhoe-loader". http://defensenews.com/blogs/idex/2009/02/18/highlights-from-2007/. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
- ↑ "JCB Defence". http://www.jcb.com/products/defence/Resources/HighMobilityBrochure.pdf. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
- ↑ "BATTLESPACE - In this issue". http://www.battle-technology.com/this_issue04i.html. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
- ↑ "JCB High-Mobility Engineer Excavator Type I" (in en-US). https://www.army-technology.com/projects/jcbhighmobilityengin/.
- ↑ "2010 Army Weapon Systems : High Mobility Engineer Excavator (HMEE)". United States Army. p. 133. https://man.fas.org/dod-101/sys/land/wsh2010/132.pdf.
- ↑ "Force Protection: The fight against IEDs | ADM July 2012 - Australian Defence Magazine" (in en). https://www.australiandefence.com.au/news/force-protection-the-fight-against-ieds-adm-july-2012.
- ↑ "High Mobility Engineer Excavators". https://www.army.gov.au/our-future/modernisation-projects/project-ningaui/high-mobility-engineer-excavators. Retrieved 2019-02-15.
- ↑ Gain, Nathan (2020-12-14). "JCB fournira des engins de génie blindés à la Défense belge" (in fr-FR). https://www.forcesoperations.com/amp/jcb-fournira-des-engins-de-genie-blindes-a-la-defense-belge/.
- ↑ "Seks hurtige rendegravere til Forsvaret" (in da). 2020-03-25. https://www.maskinteknik.dk/artikel/109734-seks-hurtige-rendegravere-til-forsvaret.
- ↑ CMS. "Forsvaret indkøber seks hurtige JCB rendegravere" (in da). https://effektivtlandbrug.landbrugnet.dk/artikler/maskiner/forsvaret-indkoeber-seks-hurtige-jcb-rendegravere.aspx.
- ↑ "Hochmobiler Geschützter Baggerlader" (in de). https://www.bundeswehr.de/de/ausruestung-technik-bundeswehr/landsysteme-bundeswehr/hochmobiler-geschuetzter-baggerlader-hmee.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Military support for Ukraine | Federal Government" (in en). 2025-01-14. https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-en/news/military-support-ukraine-2054992.
- ↑ "Irish Defence Forces Naval Service Air Corps Army Recruitment Updates 25 March" (in en). https://careersportal.ie/news/Irish-Defence-Forces-Naval-Service-Air-Corps-Army-Recruitment-Updates-25-March.
- ↑ "JCB HMEE's Are The Newest Recruits Of The Royal New Zealand Army « JCB – The Dirt". Archived from the original on 2012-09-07. https://archive.today/20120907033404/http://www.jcbdirt.com/2010/01/jcb-hmee%E2%80%99s-are-the-newest-recruits-of-the-royal-new-zealand-army/. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
- ↑ "JCB" (in es-es). https://www.jcb.com/es-es/news/2018/07/walkia-entrega-2-retroexcavadoras-blindadas-jcb-hmee-al-ejercito-espanol.
- ↑ Defensa.com (2017-11-13). "El Ejército de Tierra adquiere dos excavadoras blindadas JCB-noticia defensa.com - Noticias Defensa España" (in es). https://www.defensa.com/espana/ejercito-tierra-adquiere-dos-excavadoras-blindadas-jcb.
- ↑ "WALKIA JCB REFUERZA AL EJÉRCITO DE TIERRA ESPAÑOL CON 4 UNIDADES DE LA" (in es). 2024-02-14. https://www.walkia.es/blogs/noticias/walkia-jcb-refuerza-al-ejercito-de-tierra-espanol-con-4-unidades-de-la-retroexcavadora-blindada-jcb-hmee#:~:text=La%20JCB%20HMEE,%20es%20una,m%C3%A1s%20desafiantes%20del%20Ej%C3%A9rcito%20Espa%C3%B1ol..
- ↑ Defensa.com (2023-04-06). "Importante adquisición de retroexcavadoras blindadas para el Ejército - Noticias Defensa España" (in es). https://www.defensa.com/espana/ejercito-tierra-adquirira-50-retroexcavadoras-blindadas-27-4.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Swedish army buys JCB high-speed loaders" (in en-GB). https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2010/12/16/swedish-army-buys-jcb-high-speed-loaders/.
- ↑ "До використання у ЗСУ допустили броньований екскаватор JCB HMEE" (in ru). https://ua.korrespondent.net/ukraine/4736375-do-vykorystannia-u-zsu-dopustyly-bronovanyi-ekskavator-JCB-HMEE.
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 Keller, John (2017-09-20). "Army orders 98 new armored backhoe construction vehicles and vetronics in $36.3 million order" (in en). https://www.militaryaerospace.com/power/article/16726044/army-orders-98-new-armored-backhoe-construction-vehicles-and-vetronics-in-363-million-order.
- ↑ WWL ships JCB military excavators to the UK
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 "JCB wins extension on HMEE production contract with U.S. Department of Defense" (in en). 2018-09-26. https://www.heavyequipmentguide.ca/article/29087/jcb-wins-extension-on-hmee-production-contract-with-us-department-of-defense.
- ↑ "JCB Enters $229 Million Contract with U.S. Army" (in en). 2008-01-18. https://www.rermag.com/news-analysis/supply-side/article/20935458/jcb-enters-229-million-contract-with-us-army.
- ↑ Media, Forester (2014-06-30). "JCB Wins $50 Million US Army Contract for High-Speed Backhoes" (in en). https://www.gxcontractor.com/home/article/13011716/jcb-wins-50-million-us-army-contract-for-high-speed-backhoes.
- ↑ "JCB at work on 3 more military projects following success of HMEE high-speed, armored backhoe" (in en-us). 2015-07-22. https://www.equipmentworld.com/business/article/14963431/jcb-at-work-on-3-more-military-projects-following-success-of-hmee-high-speed-armored-backhoe.
- ↑ Malyasov, Dylan (2018-09-25). "U.S. Army orders more High Mobility Engineer Excavator Type-1 vehicles" (in en-US). https://defence-blog.com/u-s-army-orders-more-high-mobility-engineer-excavator-type-1-vehicles/.
- ↑ "NORTH AMERICAN PLANT GEARS UP AS JCB SECURES NEW MILITARY DEAL" (in en-gb). https://www.jcb.com/en-gb/news/2020/07/north-american-plant-gears-up-as-jcb-secures-new-military-deal.
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