JCB has secured one of the biggest single orders in its 71-year history -? a $142-million deal to supply the US Army with a massive fleet of machines. The company announced that the US Army is to take delivery of more than 1,600 light-capability rough terrain forklifts for deployment on tasks around the world including loading and unloading aircraft and shipping containers.

The new 527-58M forklift is engineered from JCB?s range of commercial Loadall telescopic handlers. These forklifts will be produced at JCB?s North American Headquarters in Savannah, Georgia. They will be powered by the 84 hp (63 kW) JCB DieselMax engine produced at JCB Power Systems in Derbyshire, UK. At 80 inch (2 m) wide and 78 inch (1.98 m) high, the military spec 527-58M is optimised to work in confined spaces. With a travel speed of 20 mph (33 kph), the machine has a maximum lift capacity of more than 5,000 lbs (2.26 tonne) and a lift height of 19 ft (5.8 m).

The 527-58M has been marinised to meet the operational needs of the services during wading and fording.