Family of Construction Equipment

The Family of Construction Equipment (FCE) program is a key procurement initiative within the Department of the Navy's FY 2026 budget, specifically supporting the Marine Corps' engineering and general property needs. The primary goal of this line item is to provide modern, reliable, and efficient construction and material handling equipment to replace aging assets and extend the service life of existing platforms. This equipment is critical for the Fleet Marine Force's ability to conduct a wide range of engineering operations, including the construction of littoral transition points, beach preparation, foundational site work for weapons systems, combat trails, expeditionary airfields, and survivability positions for air defense systems.

The FCE subprogram focuses on the procurement and modernization of essential construction machinery such as the Airfield Damage Repair Kit, High Mobility Engineer Excavator, Medium Crawler Tractor, Backhoe Loader (BHL), Multi-Terrain Loader (MTL), D6K Dozer, Vibratory Compactor, Motor Grader, Wheeled Scraper Tractor, and associated support equipment. The replacement of the Backhoe Loader, a versatile, mobile machine used for excavation, material handling, and troop emplacement, continues in FY 2026. The BHL replacement is justified by its critical role in both on- and off-road engineering tasks, supporting rapid response and adaptability in expeditionary environments.

The Family of Material Handling Equipment (FMHE) subprogram supports the modernization and replacement of logistics lift equipment. This includes the procurement of the Tractor/Rubber-tired/Articulated Steering/Multi-Purpose (TRAM), which serves as a multi-purpose machine capable of heavy lifting and horizontal construction operations. FMHE is essential for expeditionary logistics, supporting operations at forward ports, beaches, and logistics hubs, particularly during Littoral Operations in Contested Environments. The increase in funding from FY 2025 to FY 2026 reflects the ongoing effort to replace legacy TRAM equipment and enhance operational capability with larger attachments and improved performance.

The Garrison Transportation and Management (GTM) program is responsible for the replacement of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) vehicles and equipment that have exceeded their service life across Marine Corps installations. The objective is to procure safer, more fuel-efficient, and reliable vehicles, thereby reducing maintenance costs and improving equipment readiness. GTM covers a broad range of equipment, including warehouse tractors, asphalt machines, bulldozers, excavators, cranes, loaders, scrapers, sweepers, trenchers, forklifts, and boom trucks. This ensures that Marine Corps bases are equipped to support facilities maintenance, roadwork, force protection, and airfield engineering.

Each subprogram within the Family of Construction Equipment line item is centrally managed to maximize efficiency and standardization across the Marine Corps. The procurement strategy emphasizes the replacement of over-age assets, modernization of critical engineering and logistics platforms, and the adoption of commercial best practices where feasible. The program also supports the Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) for select equipment, ensuring continued operational effectiveness while new assets are fielded.

The justifications for these investments are rooted in the need to maintain a high level of readiness for expeditionary and garrison operations. Modern construction and material handling equipment enable the Marine Corps to rapidly respond to evolving mission requirements, enhance force protection, and sustain logistics operations in both peacetime and contested environments. The focus on replacing legacy systems with modern, multi-purpose machines also aligns with broader Department of Defense objectives for efficiency, safety, and lifecycle cost reduction.