A familiar American engine lives beneath the hood of Russia’s Humvee equivalent and many of its military trucks. The Cummins company ships diesel powerplants worldwide for use in military vehicles, including to Russia. Cummins also licenses foreign production of its powerplants to Russian companies when it established a joint-venture in 2006.
The legendary Cummins 5.9L turbo diesel engine
GAZ Tigr convoy | Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
The 5.9L Cummins turbodiesel “6BT” I6 is a legendary workhorse. Cummins engineered this engine in the 1980s. Its original purpose was industrial and agricultural applications. For example, you could order this inline six-cylinder in Case/International Harvester tractors.
By the 1980s, Dodge’s Ram truck was lagging behind the Silverado and Ford F-series. Dodge still didn’t offer a diesel engine. But the stout, efficient powerplants were gaining popularity in other full-size pickups.
Dodge approached Cummins about offering the 6BT in its trucks. The automaker had to re-engineer the entire pickup to handle the heavy-duty motor. But the result was an exceptionally strong, durable Ram. Today, Cummins engines are still one of the most popular options in heavy-duty Ram trucks.
Does the military use Cummins engines?
Cummins has been able to leverage the 6BT’s bulletproof reputation into an array of military contracts. According to Cummins, its “engines are in more tracked combat vehicles today than any other brand.”
GAZ Tigr | Sergei MalgavkoTASS via Getty Images
In 2021, the U.S. Army chose Cummins for its $87 million contract to develop an all-new Advanced Combat Engine (ACE).
Cummins also advertises its older inline-six as a “dependable engine for defense applications.” This time-tested durability also won Cummins the attention of the Russian military.
Most GAZ Tigr troop transports are Cummins powered
GAZ Tigr | DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty Images
Russia’s latest generation of light, armored troop transport is a unique vehicle. The Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod (GAZ) “Tigr” is a bit larger than the American Humvee, but every bit as capable. And most of them are Cummins powered.
The van-like Tigr is 19 feet long and 7.9 feet wide; it can transport up to 11 soldiers and a rooftop gunner. It weighs over 15,000 pounds, yet it is a capable 4×4 with locking differentials that can reach speeds of 87 mph.
The Tigr has advanced technology where it counts: thick armor, independent rear suspension, even anti-sway bars. But when it comes to drivetrain, GAZ opted for dependability. The company designed the Tigr around the Cummins 6BT engine.
GAZ began building the Cummins-powered Tigr in 2004 and Russia pressed the vehicle into service in 2006. Cummins-equipped Tigrs either have a Russian-built manual transmission or an American automatic from Allison or Chrysler.
GAZ put a Cummins in every Tigr until redesigning the vehicle in 2016 and opting for a Russian-built engine. It stands to reason that many Tigr vehicles the Russian army is using in its invasion of Ukraine are pre-2017, Cummins-powered models.
KAMAZ also builds Russian trucks with Cummins engines
KAMAZ mobile missile platforms | Sergei MalgavkoTASS via Getty Images
Back in 2006, Cummins also set up a joint-venture with Russian Government-owned KAMAZ. This new enterprise is named Cummins-Kama. KAMAZ builds trucks for both Russian civilians and the military. Now, some of these trucks are available with Cummins-Kama diesels.
The Cummins-Kama engines include two Cummins B series engines. The first is the 4.5-liter which makes up to 185 horsepower. The second is the 6.7-liter familiar to modern Ram truck owners. It is the evolution of the 5.9-liter 6BT. The Russian version makes up to 300 horsepower. The Cummins-Kama engines are all built in Russia.
What is a good next move for Cummins?
Cummins won its Russian military contracts by building a superior diesel engine. It agreed to supply Russian manufacturers while Russia was not engaged in any foreign invasions. But this doesn’t change the fact that Cummins profited from Russia’s pre-Ukraine militarization.
The Indiana-based company can take several steps to decisively support democracy and freedom. Firstly, it can voice its support of harsh sanctions and halt all business out of its Moscow office. John Deere’s recent actions would serve as an excellent model.
Secondly, Cummins can admit its profited from Russian militarization and do something to give back. Many Russian trucks with Cummins engines also use an automatic transmission built by Chrysler Corporation. Chrysler’s parent company, Stellantis, just donated 1 million Euros to Ukranian refugees and civillians.
Keyword: The Russian Army Is Cummins Powered