Caterpillar Inc., the world’s leading manufacture of earthmoving and construction equipment, diesel engines and electrical power systems, is an increasingly significant player in the global defence market.

Already a major supplier of equipment to the US armed forces currently operating in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans, Caterpillar product is also in service or about to enter service with a number of European and other armies.
 

Caterpillar C9 diesel engines have been selected by Switzerland’s GDLS MOWAG for its Piranha III light armoured vehicle for the Swiss Army and export markets around the world. This engine has been developed for the demanding commercial truck market and provides 300kW of power compliant with current and anticipated future emissions legislation. The same engine has been selected by the Romanian Army for its modernised MLI-84 (BMP 1) armoured personnel carrier, and an engine/cooling group package or complete power pack including transmission is being offered to BMP1 operators around the world.
 

Meanwhile, the larger C12 engine is the power plant of choice for the British Army’s new wheeled tanker fleet and the 522kW C18 engine powers the UK Heavy Equipment/Tank Transporter fleet which has already deployed to Iraq.

Caterpillar’s UK-based subsidiary, Perkins Engines Company Limited, continues to manufacture the combat-proven X300 fully automatic transmission.

The main customer is BAE Systems Hägglunds of Sweden, which installs the transmission in its CV90 family of armoured vehicles, selected by the Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Swiss, Dutch and Danish armies.
 

A fully integrated power pack, comprising the Caterpillar C18 engine and an electronically controlled X300 transmission, has been selected for the British Army’s Terrier combat engineer vehicle. Caterpillar’s Perkins CV12 900kW diesel engine, which already powers the Challenger 2 main battle tanks of the British and Omani armies, has been selected for the British Army’s Titan and Trojan engineer tanks and the same engine has also been installed in the modernised T-72 M4CZ of the Czech Army.

Caterpillar Inc is based in Peoria, Illinois and it employs over 70,000 people worldwide. Further details of its wide range of products for the defence market can be found at www.catdfp.com

CATERPILLAR DEFENCE PRODUCTS Lancaster Road Shrewsbury Shropshire SY1 3NX Tel: +44 (0)1743 212325 Fax: +44 (0)1743 212701 Website: www.catdfp.com Email:     coram_geoff_j@cat.com Contact: Mr Geoff Coram (Business Development Manager)