The JCB High Mobility Engineer Excavator in Action (Video)

JCB’s HMEE is a purpose-built backhoe for the U.S. Army, providing battlefield commanders with a myriad of logistics capabilities in front patrols. The HMEE incorporates three characteristics essential for military success: mobility — able to traverse rough terrain, the HMEE can create roads for military passage under almost any conditions; counter-mobility — the strong, nimble HMEE is a whiz at creating obstacles to foil the enemy; survivability — providing water and supplies, building berms and laying electrical lines, the HMEE is an invaluable asset to soldiers in the field.

The JCB HMEE is also the world’s fastest backhoe loader, traveling at speeds up to 60 mph on both paved road and cross-country surfaces. Weighing approximately 17.55 tons with armor and 15.75 tons without armor, the four-wheel drive, four-wheel steer machine with a 6.7-liter diesel engine can lift more than 2.2 tons and dig a depth of almost 13 ft. The majority of the JCB team producing the HMEE has served in the military uniquely qualifying them to produce and maintain this exceptional vehicle for the end customer — the soldier in the field. Watch it in action below.