JCB wins $45m US military deal

JCB has won a $45m contract to supply backhoe loaders to the United States Marine Corps.

After an extensive evaluation period the US military has ordered dozens of JCB 4CX machines for delivery over the next five years, along with attachments and operator training.

JCB is a defence contractor to the US Department of Defense and this is its second major contract for the US Marine Corps (USMC) following a $39m deal in 2024 for multi terrain loaders – militarised versions of the JCB Teleskid.

JCB North America president Richard Fox-Marrs said: “We’re proud that, after an extensive evaluation, the Marine Corps has once again selected JCB. As the world’s leading backhoe loader manufacturer, we value this continued partnership and the confidence placed in our ability to deliver machines that meet the highest standards of performance and reliability.”

Chris Giorgianni, vice president of government and defense for JCB North America, added: “The 4CX is the direct result of more than 70 years of continuous improvement. It’s built to perform in the most demanding of environments, whether that’s military engineering missions or high-pressure construction jobsites. This contract builds on JCB’s proven track record of supplying versatile, rugged and dependable equipment to military forces around the world.”

This latest contract with the USMC is part of JCB’s long-standing support of defence operations around the world.

Central to the 4CX’s performance is JCB’s side-shift backhoe with Powerslide system, which enables side-shift movement of the boom. Unlike centre-mount machines favoured by the North American market, this system expands the digging envelope by 10%, which means the machine does not need to be repositioned as often.