The BAE Caiman MRAP Family

Stewart & Stevenson in Houston USA, brought the 12M18 military utility truck concept from the Austrian Firm Steyr and developed it in to the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles aka FMTV. They were then awarded a 5 year contract, valued at $1.2 billion, for the production of 10843 FMTV vehicles.

Stewart & Stevenson were awarded further contracts over the years and its Tactical Vehicle Systems division of the company was bought in 2006 for $755 million in cash by Armor Holdings Inc, who in turn were bought by BAE Systems in July 2007, so technically BAE became the manufacturer and future bidder.

Their manufacturing contract ended in 2010 when final deliverers are believed to have been a total of 50000 vehicles (A0/A1). As a member of the FMTV, the Caiman shares many features and components, vastly reducing current and future logistic and training loads and allowing sharing of technology advancements such as stability control, on/off-board power or diagnostic/prognostic systems.

The Caiman was developed in 2006 to provide U.S. forces in Iraq a vehicle that would protect them against rocket-propelled grenades, roadside bombs and explosively formed projectiles. Prototypes were delivered in January 2007 and the first production contracts were awarded in 2007 for the Category II 6×6 vehicle. The first vehicle was delivered in just 43 days after the initial contract award and has now been operated in both Iraq & Afghanistan with US Forces.

The Category I is the shortened 4×4 version known as the Caiman Light, which was first seen in 2008 following the BAE acquisition of  Armor Holdings Inc.

A 22 month production run ending in November 2008 of the Caiman has delivered 2868 vehicle in both Category I and II of the MRAP program.

BAE Systems has been awarded a number of multi-million dollar contracts to upgrade in service Caiman by the U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command in Quantico.

The upgraded vehicle, called the Caiman Multi-Terrain Vehicle (MTV), integrates a refurbished and improved armoured capsule from an existing Caiman with a new high-power automotive power train, chassis and independent suspension.  These enhancements will provide greater levels of mobility and survivability necessary for challenging and varied environments and enemy threats. The Caiman MTV is available in three variants, troop carrier, ambulance and C2OTM (Command & Control On-The-Move).

Caiman Category II (6×6) MRAP Spec’s

The BAE Caiman MRAP Family
The BAE Caiman MRAP Family

Caiman Category I (4×4) MRAP Spec’s

The BAE Caiman MRAP Family
The BAE Caiman MRAP Family

Caiman MTV Category II (6×6) MRAP Spec’s

The BAE Caiman MRAP Family
The BAE Caiman MRAP Family

Starting in October 2013, local police and sheriff offices throughout the US began assuming control of many Caiman 6×6 MTVs. The US Federal Government offered these vehicles to local jurisdictions for the price it cost to transport them.

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.