The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has committed £26m ($34m) to procure 157 construction and earthmoving vehicles from JCB, replacing part of the equipment fleet used by the Armed Forces.
The order comprises 96 Medium Wheeled Tractors (MWTs) and 61 excavators.
Both equipment lines are due to enter service during 2027 and will be managed through the MoD’s MITER contract with infrastructure and engineering services company Amey.
MITER provides the MoD with around 4,500 pieces of construction, earthmoving and materials-handling equipment.
The new machines will be used for tasks including road and base construction, obstacle clearance and bulk-material movement, according to the MoD.
The department said the procurement will sustain approximately 230 jobs associated with Amey’s MITER contract and a further 250 jobs at JCB.
The MoD’s National Armaments Director Group developed the programme with Amey, selecting the equipment after assessing operational needs, fleet performance and long-term value.
The department said the acquisition forms part of its wider approach to fleet management and equipment availability.
The MWTs will provide shovel-loader capability for loading, managing stockpiles and moving bulk materials, as well as other engineering work.
Their 4-in-1 buckets can be used for digging, loading, grading and grabbing, reducing the need to change attachments between tasks.
The new excavator fleet, comprising both wheeled and tracked platforms, includes a newly introduced 8-tonne mid-range machine, improving fleet versatility for tasks ranging from confined urban work to general construction. Interchangeable attachments further extend the excavators’ engineering utility.
National Armaments Director Group, land environment director major general Lizzie Faithfull-Davies said: “This programme has been shaped around the needs of Defence and those who rely on these assets every day, from the British Army’s civil engineers to construction teams across all three services.
“Working alongside Amey and JCB has enabled us to align operational requirements, technical expertise and commercial strategy to secure the right solution for the future."
