JCB has won a GBP1 million (USD1.5 million) contract to supply the Royal Air Force (RAF) with 27 JCB Loadall telehandlers.

Most of the 525-50 telehandlers, which will be used to move ammunition and weapons, have been built to meet RAF requirements, but two have also been modified to work at extremely cold temperatures. All the machines have been delivered. Each telehandler has specially-fitted lifting points to enable air lifting by helicopter.

The machines, made at JCB Compact Products, in Cheadle, Staffordshire, have a maximum payload of 2.5 tonnes and a maximum lift height of five metres. Most munitions are received in containers.

The RAF said in a statement that the telehandlers would replace an ageing fleet of JCB 410 machines, purchased in 1984, which would be phased out over two years.

"The contract went out to tender and it was judged that the JCB 525-50 Loadalls afforded the correct mix of value for money, operational capability and future supportability," the statement said.