# BAE Caiman

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The **Caiman** is a [mine-resistant ambush-protected](/source/Mine-resistant_ambush-protected) vehicle with a [V-hull](/source/V-hull) design based on the [Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles](/source/Family_of_Medium_Tactical_Vehicles) (FMTV) and Low Signature Armored Cab (LSAC), initially developed by [Stewart & Stevenson](/source/Stewart_%26_Stevenson) and now produced by [BAE Systems Platforms & Services](/source/BAE_Systems_Platforms_%26_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](/source/Composite_armour)[1]
- Armor enhancement capable
- Accepts all types of manned and [remote weapons stations](/source/Remote_controlled_weapon_station)
- 85 percent parts commonality with standard FMTV models (40,000 of which are already fielded)
- Full-time [all wheel drive](/source/All-wheel_drive)
- Fully automatic transmission
- Electronic [Central Tire Inflation System](/source/Central_tire_inflation_system) (CTIS)
- [Anti-lock braking system](/source/Anti-lock_braking_system) (ABS)
- Class V [Interactive Electronic Technical Manuals](/source/Interactive_electronic_technical_manual) (IETM)

## History

The Caiman completed testing by the [U.S. military](/source/United_States_Armed_Forces) at the [Aberdeen Proving Grounds](/source/Aberdeen_Proving_Grounds) in July 2007. On July 13, 2007, [Armor Holdings](/source/Armor_Holdings) received a prime contract award by the [U.S. Navy](/source/United_States_Navy) on the behalf of the [U.S. Marine Corps](/source/United_States_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](/source/BAE_Systems) acquired Armor Holdings in 2007 and continued production of the Caiman.

In August 2009, the [U.S. Army](/source/United_States_Army) announced that [Oshkosh Defense](/source/Oshkosh_Corporation) 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](/source/Meritor).[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-year [Iraq War](/source/Iraq_War).

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](/source/Law_Enforcement_Support_Office) 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 the [United Arab Emirates Army](/source/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.[7]

## Operators

### Military operators

- [Egypt](/source/Egypt): [Egyptian Armed Forces](/source/Egyptian_Armed_Forces) — 2000[8][9]
- [Iraq](/source/Iraq): [Iraqi Special Operations Forces](/source/Iraqi_Special_Operations_Forces)[10] - [11]
- [Libya](/source/Libya): [Libyan National Army](/source/Libyan_National_Army)[12]
- [Nigeria](/source/Nigeria): [Nigerian Army](/source/Nigerian_Army) — part of a batch of 24 MRAPs[13]
- [United Arab Emirates](/source/United_Arab_Emirates): [United Arab Emirates Army](/source/United_Arab_Emirates_Army) — 1,150[7][14]
- [United States](/source/United_States)

### Civilian operators

- [United States](/source/United_States) - [NASA](/source/NASA) - [Summit County](/source/Summit_County,_Ohio) Sheriff's Office - [Waterbury, Connecticut](/source/Waterbury,_Connecticut) Police Department

### Non-state operators

- [People's Defense Units](/source/People's_Defense_Units) (YPG)[15]

## See also

- [Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV)](/source/Family_of_Medium_Tactical_Vehicles)

## References

1. ["Article on Tensylon based composite armor used in Caiman."](http://www.greatercharlottebiz.com/article.asp?id=766). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20081006030245/http://www.greatercharlottebiz.com/article.asp?id=766) 2008-10-06 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2008-07-14.

1. [Marine Corps News> MRAP Orders Approach 5,000](https://www.marines.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/0/392158BE6C6E5AE9852573170073B9C4?opendocument) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20080205114628/http://www.marines.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/0/392158BE6C6E5AE9852573170073B9C4?opendocument) 2008-02-05 at the Wayback Machine

1. ["defence.professionals"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110628011550/http://www.defpro.com/news/details/18172). defpro.com. Archived from [the original](http://www.defpro.com/news/details/18172/) on 2011-06-28. Retrieved 2010-09-10.

1. ["Error Page"](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). *BAE Systems - International*. Archived from [the original](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) on 23 April 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2018.

1. [United States Northwest Regional SWAT Team is now equipped with Caiman 6x6 MRAP vehicle](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) [Archived](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) 2013-11-09 at the Wayback Machine - Armyrecognition.com, 3 November 2013

1. ["City OK's defense vehicle purchase - TimesRepublican.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Community info - Times Republican"](http://www.timesrepublican.com/page/content.detail/id/571488/City-OK-s-defense-vehicle-purchase.html). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140518172846/http://www.timesrepublican.com/page/content.detail/id/571488/City-OK-s-defense-vehicle-purchase.html) 2014-05-18 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2014-05-18.

1. [United States approved major contract of MRAP vehicles for UAE](http://www.armyrecognition.com/september_2014_global_defense_security_news_uk/united_states_approved_major_contract_of_mraps_vehicles_for_uae.html) [Archived](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) 2014-11-07 at the Wayback Machine - Armyrecognition.com, 27 September 2014

1. ["U.S. Delivers Armored MRAP Vehicles to Egyptian Military"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160513110800/http://egypt.usembassy.gov/pr051216.html). 12 May 2016. Archived from [the original](http://egypt.usembassy.gov/pr051216.html) on 13 May 2016.

1. ["Excess Defense Articles (EDA)"](http://dsca.mil/programs/excess-defense-articles-eda). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160517002019/http://www.dsca.mil/programs/excess-defense-articles-eda) 2016-05-17 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2016-05-13.

1. ["Iraqi special forces seen with new vehicles for Mosul offensive"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170510064145/https://www.janes.com/article/61652/iraqi-special-forces-seen-with-new-vehicles-for-mosul-offensive). Jane's Defence Weekly. 21 June 2016. Archived from [the original](https://janes.ihs.com/Janes/Display/1772393) on May 10, 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2016.

1. International Institute for Strategic Studies (February 2016). *The Military Balance 2016*. Vol. 116. Routledge. p. 491. ISBN 9781857438352.

1. Mitzer, Stijn & Oliemans, Joost (23 March 2021). ["Tracking Arms Transfers By The UAE, Russia, Jordan And Egypt To The Libyan National Army Since 2014"](https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2020/06/types-of-arms-and-equipment-supplied-to.html). *Oryx Blog*

1. ["UNITED STATES SET TO PRESENT 24 MINE RESISTANT AMBUSH PROTECTED VEHICLES VALUED AT US$11 MILLION TO THE NIGERIAN ARMY TODAY"](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/). 7 January 2016. [Archived](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/) 6 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 August 2016.

1. Administrator. ["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"](https://www.armyrecognition.com/december_2017_global_defense_security_news_industry/caiman_mtv_6x6_mrap_vehicle_in_service_with_uae_army.html). *www.armyrecognition.com*. [Archived](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) 12 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 22 April 2018.

1. Mitzer, Stijn & Oliemans, Joost (29 October 2021). ["Kurdish Armour: Inventorising YPG Equipment In Northern Syria"](https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2021/10/kurdish-armour-inventorising-ypg.html). *Oryx Blog*

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [BAE Caiman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BAE_Caiman) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BAE_Caiman?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.