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| BAE Caiman | |
|---|---|
 Caimans used by theUnited States Army inIraq | |
| Type | MRAP |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2007–present |
| Used by | Seeoperators |
| Wars | Iraq War War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) Second Libyan Civil War Yemeni Civil War (2014–present) |
| Production history | |
| Designer | |
| Manufacturer | BAE Systems Platforms & Services |
| No. built | 1,000+ |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 2.6m |
| Length | 7.5m |
| Width | 3.1m |
| Crew | 10 |
TheCaiman is amine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle with aV-hull design based on theFamily of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) and Low Signature Armored Cab (LSAC), initially developed byStewart & Stevenson and now produced byBAE Systems Platforms & Services.
The Caiman is based on the chassis and automotives of the Medium Tactical Vehicle variant of the FMTV and features:
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The Caiman completed testing by theU.S. military at theAberdeen Proving Grounds in July 2007. On July 13, 2007,Armor Holdings received a prime contract award by theU.S. Navy on the behalf of theU.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, theU.S. Army announced thatOshkosh 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 byArvinMeritor.[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-yearIraq 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. governmentoffered 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 theUnited 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]
Egypt:Egyptian Armed Forces — 2000[8][9]
Iraq:Iraqi Special Operations Forces[10]
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
NASA
Summit County Sheriff's Office
Waterbury, Connecticut Police Department
