British Army's construction vehicles boosted by £240m contract

Above: British Army HQ, Afghanistan, 2018.
Courtesy British Army / MoD

The fleet - known as MITER - is a valuable asset in peace time activities and operations around the world.

In recent years the equipment, which includes excavators, bulldozers and cranes, has been used to help with recovery following the devastation caused by Hurricanes Irma and Dorian in the Caribbean, during major flooding incidents in the UK and supporting the military response to COVID-19 by loading and off-loading vital medical supplies.

The new seven-year contract, awarded to AmeyBiggs, will maintain, manage and support the MoD’s requirement for earth-moving, engineer construction and mechanical handling capabilities. As well as £136 million in savings over the next 10 years, the contract will also sustain jobs across the UK.

Defence Minister Jeremy Quin said: “Our Armed Forces deserve the best equipment for their vital operations, both in the UK and right across the world. From humanitarian support to keeping our country safe, construction and mechanical vehicles are a key asset for defence.”

The contract was negotiated by Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), the procurement arm of the MoD. MITER sees three existing contracts - Defence Mechanical Handling Equipment, Protected Engineering Equipment and C-Vehicle capability - brought under one umbrella contract.

This is part of defence’s “Whole Force” approach, which puts equipment, personnel for military tasks, new information systems and infrastructure support under one arrangement.

Simon Herrington, who led the DE&S team securing the contract, explained: “This has been a culmination of five years hard work with a small dedicated project team assisted with subject matter experts and a very good working relationship with the Army as lead customer.

“This hard work and collaborative working have resulted in the project being able to declare a £136 million efficiency for DE&S and the Army - a really great achievement.”

Under MITER, AmeyBriggs will manage and maintain this key equipment as well as provide support for military personnel to ensure safe and effective use.