JCB secures $28m French military backhoe order

The deal – the biggest yet won from the French armed forces – was secured after a lengthy tendering and evaluation period during which JCB fought off competition from other global manufacturers.
The first of the specially armoured and camouflaged machines, made at the company’s world headquarters in Rocester, England, have now started to be delivered and are expected to be deployed in conflict zones around the world by engineer regiments.
JCB sales MD David Bell, said there was an extremely long and detailed process to go through to win the business, and the company was delighted that the contract had been awarded to JCB.
“While we have supplied the French military before, this contract is the biggest they have ever awarded to us,’’ he said. “It was won on the back of three main criteria: the availability of an ‘off-the-shelf machine,’ the service support that JCB France can provide and the fact that the JCB Group has its own government and defence unit, which underlined our commitment to this sector.”
The 4CX backhoe, on which the French military machines are based, was taken from the commercial range of JCB construction equipment and adapted to the technical specifications needed by the Army. They travel at speeds of up to 40km/h and have undergone adaptations to make them air transportable.
In order to protect the operator when the machine is working in hostile areas, the cab has ballistic protection using special glass and steel.
Last year, JCB Construction Equipment Australia supplied 40 customised telescopic handlers to the Australian Army valued at $12.5m.
The customised machines are based on JCB’s 535-95 construction telehandler and are powered by the new 75kW JCB Dieselmax, Tier III emissions compliant engine.
JCB products in Australia are distributed by JCB Construction Equipment Australia.