High Mobility Engineer Excavator-Type I

By Scott R. Gourley

The U.S. Army will soon begin production verification testing on the latest addition to its mobility/countermobility platform inventory: the high mobility engineer excavator-Type I (HMEE-I).

As described by representatives from the Program Executive Office for Combat Support and Combat Service Support (PEO CS & CSS), the HMEE-I “is a highly mobile, on/off road, self-deployable excavator system capable of providing mobility/countermobility and survivability to support the Stryker brigade combat teams (SBCT) and brigade combat teams (BCT). Besides speed and mobility, the HMEE-I provides needed engineer tasks in the areas of excavation/trenching, lifting and loading capabilities. It is able to keep pace with the maneuver force without the need of a truck tractor and trailer combination for transportation. The HMEE-I is also C-130, C-5 and C-17 air transportable.”

In performing its mission, the HMEE-I will provide enhanced excavation capabilities that will replace the current FLU-419 small emplacement excavator (SEE) in the Army’s inventory.

The lightweight, all-wheel drive SEE is used to rapidly dig combat emplacements, ranging from protected command post sites to individual fighting positions. Although possessing limited off-road mobility, the SEE has a speed of 40 mph on improved roads, allowing movement between battle positions.

The SEE is reportedly nearing the end of its projected life cycle, however. Moreover, it is not designed to meet the needs of the modular SBCT and BCT units. The SEE platform suffers from increased operations and support costs along with poor readiness rates.

As a replacement for those platforms, the new HMEE-I will improve readiness while providing the soldier with enhanced state-of-the-art capabilities in the areas of mobility and excavation for both tactical and nontactical missions.

The HMEE-I program emerged from an Operational Requirements Document dated August 2000 and approved in October of that year. That ORD eventually led to a solicitation for sources to provide the required HMEE-I capabilities.

As described in the 2002 solicitation, “The HMEE will support early entry operations, supporting Force XXI operations and brigade combat team operations, which are characterized by high mobility, rapid tactical and operational movement and distributed operations. The HMEE blends speed and mobility with loading, lifting and excavating capabilities, giving it the utility needed early in deployments. Therefore, the HMEE will be one of the first engineer systems in theater. Among the tasks the HMEE will perform are: preparing and filling craters on airfields, filling in pot holes, clearing/repairing drainage, lifting debris, loading aggregate required for construction or repair, digging trenches for culverts and rapid repair of existing roads. The HMEE will also lift pallet loads for logistical requirements. For force protection and force sustainment, the HMEE will perform digging, lifting, loading and trenching operations. A focus of the HMEE BCT mission is to construct individual and crew-served weapon positions and perform line of communications, airfield and rapid road repairs. In support of major construction projects, the HMEE will aid construction of protective shelters/bunkers, towers and helipads, do bridge site preparation, assist with the emplacement of line of communication bridges, aid in seaport construction, logistic bases operations and other structures and facilities. When equipped with various attachments, the HMEE will provide combat deployed units a host of earthmoving and construction support capabilities. There is no requirement, nor is it envisioned for the HMEE to do large area earthmoving blade work, obstacle blade reduction or assault breaching.”

The solicitation process led to research and development contracts being awarded in April 2003 to two bidders: JCB Inc. (England), Pooler, Ga., and Australian Defense Industries (ADI), Bendigo, Australia. Both of the bidders provided vehicles for a production prove out test and a limited user test for the system development and demonstration phase (SDD). Findings from the SSD phase were then evaluated through a source selection evaluation down select board, where a five-year, firm-fixed requirements type contract plus two option years, was awarded to JCB Inc. (England), Pooler, Ga., in September 2005.

In announcing their receipt of the contract award, a JCB release noted, “The high mobility engineer excavator vehicle has been designed to meet the requirements specified by U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command for a backhoe loader capable of speeds up to 57 mph.”

Noting that full production will commence in 2007 at JCB Inc., in Savannah, Ga., it continued, “The HMEE combines the capabilities of the world-renowned JCB backhoe loader and the innovative high-speed JCB Fastrac agricultural tractor, which is the only tractor to have full suspension and anti-lock brakes.

“The objective of the HMEE concept is to have a machine capable of traveling at military convoy speed without the need for transportation by a truck and low-loader trailer. A fully armored version is under discussion.

“The 12-ton HMEE will boast a 5.9-liter diesel engine, four-wheel drive, four-wheel steer, will lift more than two tons and dig to a depth of almost four meters. It is designed to be air-transportable by Hercules C-130 aircraft.”

“Our Savannah team designed and developed this vehicle to meet the U.S. Army’s critical mission needs and the JCB HMEE is a remarkable machine ready to support the U.S. Army,” said Helmut Peters, president, JCB Inc. North America. “The HMEE will revolutionize the capability of military engineers, thanks to JCB’s breakthrough technology, and presents us with huge global opportunities.”

The six PVT vehicles now being built by JCB Inc. will be delivered to Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., in June of this year. PVT testing will run from June through December with production deliveries scheduled to begin in the June 2007 timeframe.

The HMEE-I contract runs from 2005 through 2010, with a possible two-year option period. The current Engineer Future Force requirements are for 616 HMEE-I platforms to be fielded to SBCTs, BCTs units, Engineer support companies, medium ribbon companies and the TRADOC School at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.

As to the importance of HMEE-I to the Army, PEO CS &CSS representatives observe, “The HMEE-I provides our Engineer forces with enhanced maneuver capability to keep pace with the Army’s highly mobile forces within the brigade combat teams and other Engineer units. It will give our soldiers the latest state-of-the-art capabilities with a self-deployable excavation system that will execute a wide range of mobility, countermobility, survivability and general engineering missions, operating in a full spectrum of environments.”