High Mobility Engineer Excavators (HMEEs)

In 2011, NZ Army purchased six new JCB High Mobility Engineer Excavators (HMEEs) as part of the Engineer Omnibus project.

The HMEE was developed over the last five years by JCB to answer the call for high mobility earthmoving plant that could survive on the modern battlefield, and as such the technology is cutting edge and at the early stages of its service life. The HMEEs acquired for NZ Army are configured essentially the same as those being used by the US and UK Armies.

The HMEEs represent a significant increase in Engineer capability. Until now, Engineers didn't have an earthmoving capability that could keep pace with NZLAV; the in service JCB 4CX-M Backhoe lacks the speed, mobility and armoured protection to operate alongside Cavalry in high threat environments. In contrast, the HMEE has been proven operationally by the US and UK Armies to be combat viable and effective working alongside other armoured vehicles.

HMEE will enhance the NZLAV based Cavalry capability by providing the ability to undertake route clearance, survivability, construction and other earthmoving tasks using a system that has comparable protection and mobility to NZLAV.

Experience in Iraq and Afghanistan has shown that the vehicle's armour has allowed US operators to survive mine and IED strikes which would otherwise have caused fatal consequences if less protected vehicles had been attacked. The vehicles top on road speed of 90 Km/hr and great cross country capability means that it can operate as part of a Cavalry formation and self–deploy without needing to be trailered to a task site.

The HMEE is not just relevant for support to Cavalry though; the modern battlefield has no front line and Engineers working on civil aid, route maintenance or general support engineering tasks can be exposed to enemy action across the battlespace. The armoured protection provided by HMEE makes the provision of horizontal construction effort safer for Plant Operators in any operating environment.

Core Dimensions and Performance

Weight (combat loaded with armour etc)	14,000 Kg
Length	9.2m
Width	2.4m
Height	2.6m
Top speed	90 Km/hr
Maximum vertical step	480mm
Side slope limit	30%
Climb/Descent limit	60%
Fording depth	1m

Core Features

• Armoured cab for crew (2) protection.
• Blackout facility for night driving.
• Two wheel / four wheel / crab steer.
• Run flat tyres.
• Wide range of attachments and tools.
• ABS brakes.