BAE Caiman

{{Infobox weapon

| name = BAE Caiman

| image = Caiman mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles in Iraq.jpg

| image_size = 300

| caption = Caimans used by the United States Army in Iraq

| origin = United States

| type = MRAP

| is_vehicle =

| service = 2007–present

| used_by = See operators

| wars = Iraq War
War in Afghanistan (2001-2021)
Second Libyan Civil War
Yemeni Civil War (2014–present)

| designer = {{unbulleted list|BAE Systems Platforms & Services|Armor Holdings|Stewart & Stevenson}}

| design_date =

| manufacturer = BAE Systems Platforms & Services

| production_date =

| number = 1,000+

| variants =

| weight = 2.6m

| length = 7.5m

| width = 3.1m

| height =

| crew = 10

}}

The Caiman is a mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle 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{{Cite web |title=Article on Tensylon based composite armor used in Caiman. |url=http://www.greatercharlottebiz.com/article.asp?id=766 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006030245/http://www.greatercharlottebiz.com/article.asp?id=766 |archive-date=2008-10-06 |access-date=2008-07-14}}
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

File:Interior of a NASA Caiman MRAP (KSC-2014-1393).jpg]]

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.[http://www.marines.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/0/392158BE6C6E5AE9852573170073B9C4?opendocument Marine Corps News> MRAP Orders Approach 5,000] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080205114628/http://www.marines.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/0/392158BE6C6E5AE9852573170073B9C4?opendocument |date=2008-02-05 }}

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.{{cite web

|url=http://www.defpro.com/news/details/18172/

|access-date=2010-09-10

|title=defence.professionals

|publisher=defpro.com

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628011550/http://www.defpro.com/news/details/18172

|archive-date=2011-06-28

|url-status=dead

}} Greater survivability is achieved through an enhanced monolithic floor, a strengthened chassis frame and better blast absorbing seats.{{cite web|url=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|title=Error Page|website=BAE Systems - International|access-date=22 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423170127/https://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|archive-date=23 April 2018|url-status=dead}}

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.

File:Summit County Sheriff SWAT BAE Caiman MRAP - Ohio (52171227125).jpg in Ohio]]

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.[http://www.armyrecognition.com/november_2013_defense_industry_military_news_uk/united_states_nortwest_regional_swat_team_is_now_equipped_with_caiman_6x6_mrap_vehicle_0311133.html United States Northwest Regional SWAT Team is now equipped with Caiman 6x6 MRAP vehicle] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109135628/http://www.armyrecognition.com/november_2013_defense_industry_military_news_uk/united_states_nortwest_regional_swat_team_is_now_equipped_with_caiman_6x6_mrap_vehicle_0311133.html |date=2013-11-09 }} - Armyrecognition.com, 3 November 2013{{Cite web |url=http://www.timesrepublican.com/page/content.detail/id/571488/City-OK-s-defense-vehicle-purchase.html |title=City OK's defense vehicle purchase - TimesRepublican.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Community info - Times Republican |access-date=2014-05-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518172846/http://www.timesrepublican.com/page/content.detail/id/571488/City-OK-s-defense-vehicle-purchase.html |archive-date=2014-05-18 |url-status=live }}

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.[http://www.armyrecognition.com/september_2014_global_defense_security_news_uk/united_states_approved_major_contract_of_mraps_vehicles_for_uae.html United States approved major contract of MRAP vehicles for UAE] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107050459/http://www.armyrecognition.com/september_2014_global_defense_security_news_uk/united_states_approved_major_contract_of_mraps_vehicles_for_uae.html |date=2014-11-07 }} - Armyrecognition.com, 27 September 2014

Operators

File:Caiman operators.png

=Military operators=

{{flag|Egypt}}: Egyptian Armed Forces — 2000{{cite news|url=http://egypt.usembassy.gov/pr051216.html |title=U.S. Delivers Armored MRAP Vehicles to Egyptian Military |date=12 May 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513110800/http://egypt.usembassy.gov/pr051216.html |archive-date=13 May 2016 }}{{cite news|url=http://dsca.mil/programs/excess-defense-articles-eda|title=Excess Defense Articles (EDA)|access-date=2016-05-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160517002019/http://www.dsca.mil/programs/excess-defense-articles-eda|archive-date=2016-05-17|url-status=live}}
{{flag|Iraq}}: Iraqi Special Operations Forces{{cite web |url= https://janes.ihs.com/Janes/Display/1772393|title= Iraqi special forces seen with new vehicles for Mosul offensive|publisher= Jane's Defence Weekly |date= 21 June 2016 |access-date= 29 June 2016}}
{{KUR}}{{cite book|title=The Military Balance 2016|date=February 2016|volume=116|isbn=9781857438352|publisher=Routledge |author=International Institute for Strategic Studies|author-link=International Institute for Strategic Studies |page=491}}
{{flag|Libya}}: Libyan National Army{{cite web |last1=Mitzer |first1=Stijn |last2=Oliemans |first2=Joost |title=Tracking Arms Transfers By The UAE, Russia, Jordan And Egypt To The Libyan National Army Since 2014 |url=https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2020/06/types-of-arms-and-equipment-supplied-to.html |website=Oryx Blog |date=23 March 2021}}
{{flag|Nigeria}}: Nigerian Army — part of a batch of 24 MRAPs{{cite news|url=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/|title=UNITED STATES SET TO PRESENT 24 MINE RESISTANT AMBUSH PROTECTED VEHICLES VALUED AT US$11 MILLION TO THE NIGERIAN ARMY TODAY|date=7 January 2016|access-date=25 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006115440/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/|archive-date=6 October 2016|url-status=live}}
{{flag|United Arab Emirates}}: United Arab Emirates Army — 1,150{{cite web|url=https://www.armyrecognition.com/december_2017_global_defense_security_news_industry/caiman_mtv_6x6_mrap_vehicle_in_service_with_uae_army.html|title=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|last=Administrator|website=www.armyrecognition.com|access-date=22 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171212073254/https://www.armyrecognition.com/december_2017_global_defense_security_news_industry/caiman_mtv_6x6_mrap_vehicle_in_service_with_uae_army.html|archive-date=12 December 2017|url-status=live}}
{{flagu|United States}}
{{Army|United States}}

=Civilian operators=

{{flagu|United States}}
{{Flagicon image|Flag of the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration.svg}} NASA
{{Flagicon image|Flag of Summit County, Ohio.svg}} Summit County Sheriff's Office

=Non-state operators=

People's Defense Units (YPG){{cite web |last1=Mitzer |first1=Stijn |last2=Oliemans |first2=Joost |title=Kurdish Armour: Inventorising YPG Equipment In Northern Syria |url=https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2021/10/kurdish-armour-inventorising-ypg.html |website=Oryx Blog |date=29 October 2021}}

References

Category:BAE Systems land vehicles

Category:Mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles

Category:Wheeled armoured fighting vehicles

Category:Military vehicles introduced in the 2000s

Category:Wheeled armoured personnel carriers

Category:Six-wheeled vehicles