Engineering:BAE Caiman
| BAE Caiman | |
|---|---|
 Caimans used by the United States Army in Iraq | |
| Type | MRAP |
| Place of origin |  United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2007–present |
| Used by | See operators |
| Wars |
|
| Production history | |
| Designer |
|
| Manufacturer | BAE Systems Platforms & Services |
| No. built | 1000+ |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 2.6m |
| Length | 7.5m |
| Width | 3.1m |
| Crew | 10 |
The Caiman is an MRAP with a V-hull design based on the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) and Low Signature Armored Cab (LSAC), initially developed by Stewart & Stevenson and now produced by BAE Systems Platforms & Services.
The Caiman is based on the chassis and automotives of the Medium Tactical Vehicle variant of the FMTV and features:
- 10-man crew capacity
- Tensylon composite armor[1]
- Armor enhancement capable
- Accepts all types of manned and remote weapons stations
- 85 percent parts commonality with standard FMTV models (40,000 of which are already fielded)
- Full-time all wheel drive
- Fully automatic transmission
- Electronic Central Tire Inflation System (CTIS)
- Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
- Class V Interactive Electronic Technical Manuals (IETM)
History
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The Caiman completed testing by the U.S. military at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in July 2007. On July 13, 2007, Armor Holdings received a prime contract award by the U.S. Navy on the behalf of the U.S. Marine Corps for $518.5 million under the MRAP vehicle program. The contract specified delivery of 1,154 Category I MRAP vehicles and 16 Category II MRAP vehicles by the end of February 2008.[2]
BAE Systems acquired Armor Holdings in 2007 and continued production of the Caiman.
In August 2009, the U.S. Army announced that Oshkosh Defense had been awarded the FMTV A1P2 rebuy production contract. This award did not include the Caiman.
In September 2010 BAE Systems was awarded a $629 million contract from the U.S. MRAP Joint Program Office to upgrade 1,700 Caiman MRAP vehicles to Caiman Multi-Terrain Vehicle - Caiman MTV standard. The upgraded vehicle integrates a refurbished and improved armored capsule from an existing vehicle with a new high-power automotive power train, chassis and independent suspension made by ArvinMeritor.[3] Greater survivability is achieved through an enhanced monolithic floor, a strengthened chassis frame and better blast absorbing seats.[4]
On December 18, 2011, a Caiman was part of the last U.S. military convoy out of Iraq, being the last vehicle to cross the border into Kuwait, signifying the end of U.S. military presence and operations in the eight-year Iraq War.
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Starting in October 2013, local police and sheriff offices in the U.S. began to acquire Caiman 6x6 MTVs. The U.S. government offered these vehicles to local law enforcement as the need for them greatly decreased after the Iraq and Afghanistan wars ended. The Caiman MTV normally costs $412,000, but is sold for only its transportation costs to the local jurisdiction.[5][6]
In September 2014, the U.S. approved a $2.5 billion deal with the United Arab Emirates Army for over 4,500 surplus U.S. MRAPs for increased force protection, conducting humanitarian assistance operations, and protecting vital international commercial trade routes and critical infrastructure. 1,150 vehicles were Caimans.[7]
Operators
Military operators
Egypt: Egyptian Armed Forces — 400[8][9]
Iraq: Iraqi Special Operations Forces[10]- Template:KUR[11]
Libya: Libyan National Army[12]
Nigeria: Nigerian Army — part of a batch of 24 MRAPs[13]
United Arab Emirates: United Arab Emirates Army — 1,150[7][14]- United States: United States Armed Forces
Civilian operators
- United States: NASA and several law enforcement agencies
Non-state operators
- People's Defense Units (YPG)[15]
See also
- Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV)
References
- ↑ "Article on Tensylon based composite armor used in Caiman.". http://www.greatercharlottebiz.com/article.asp?id=766.
- ↑ Marine Corps News> MRAP Orders Approach 5,000
- ↑ "defence.professionals". defpro.com. http://www.defpro.com/news/details/18172/.
- ↑ "Error Page". http://www.baesystems.com/Newsroom/NewsReleases/autoGen_11081152039.html?iact=hc&vpx=812&vpy=393&dur=1970&hovh=148&hovw=183&tx=63&ty=76&ei=cDOITPPXHYuWswaQ_8TlCg&oei=YzOITOacD8TKjAff_4yPCA&esq=2&page=2&tbnh=148&tbnw=183&start=30&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:30.
- ↑ United States Northwest Regional SWAT Team is now equipped with Caiman 6x6 MRAP vehicle - Armyrecognition.com, 3 November 2013
- ↑ "City OK's defense vehicle purchase - TimesRepublican.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Community info - Times Republican". http://www.timesrepublican.com/page/content.detail/id/571488/City-OK-s-defense-vehicle-purchase.html.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 United States approved major contract of MRAP vehicles for UAE - Armyrecognition.com, 27 September 2014
- ↑ "U.S. Delivers Armored MRAP Vehicles to Egyptian Military". 12 May 2016. http://egypt.usembassy.gov/pr051216.html.
- ↑ "Excess Defense Articles (EDA)". http://dsca.mil/programs/excess-defense-articles-eda.
- ↑ "Iraqi special forces seen with new vehicles for Mosul offensive". Jane's Defence Weekly. 21 June 2016. https://janes.ihs.com/Janes/Display/1772393.
- ↑ International Institute for Strategic Studies (February 2016). The Military Balance 2016. 116. Routledge. p. 491. ISBN 9781857438352.
- ↑ Mitzer, Stijn; Oliemans, Joost (23 March 2021). "Tracking Arms Transfers By The UAE, Russia, Jordan And Egypt To The Libyan National Army Since 2014". https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2020/06/types-of-arms-and-equipment-supplied-to.html.
- ↑ "UNITED STATES SET TO PRESENT 24 MINE RESISTANT AMBUSH PROTECTED VEHICLES VALUED AT US$11 MILLION TO THE NIGERIAN ARMY TODAY". 7 January 2016. https://beegeagle.wordpress.com/2016/01/07/united-states-set-to-present-24-mine-resistant-ambush-protected-vehicles-valued-at-us11-million-to-the-nigerian-army-today/.
- ↑ Administrator. "Caiman MTV 6x6 MRAP vehicle in service with UAE army - December 2017 Global Defense Security news industry - Defense Security global news industry army 2017 - Archive News year". https://www.armyrecognition.com/december_2017_global_defense_security_news_industry/caiman_mtv_6x6_mrap_vehicle_in_service_with_uae_army.html.
- ↑ Mitzer, Stijn; Oliemans, Joost (29 October 2021). "Kurdish Armour: Inventorising YPG Equipment In Northern Syria". https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2021/10/kurdish-armour-inventorising-ypg.html.
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