U.S. Special Operations Command selected the 2009 Kawasaki Teryx 750 FI 4×4 for a five-year contract potentially covering as many as 1,625 vehicles. The indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract awarded to UV Country Kawasaki was valued at up to $28,390,453.
Kawasaki Teryx Selected in SOCOM Competition
U.S. Special Operations Command, commonly known as SOCOM, evaluated vehicles for use as lightweight tactical transportation. The candidates ranged from conventional utility vehicles to expensive purpose-built machines.
Following research and vehicle evaluations, SOCOM selected the fuel-injected 2009 Kawasaki Teryx 750 FI 4×4.
UV Country Kawasaki had previously supplied vehicles to the military in June 2008. Company owner Shannon Tracy believed the Teryx was particularly well suited to applications where durability, low weight, speed and maneuverability were important.
Tracy responded to a SOCOM bid request with a proposal to supply Kawasaki Teryx vehicles over a multiyear period. Following the final evaluations, SOCOM awarded UV Country a five-year contract with a maximum value of approximately $28.4 million.
Contract Covered Up to 1,625 Teryx Vehicles
The indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity agreement allowed SOCOM to order as many as 1,625 Kawasaki Teryx vehicles during the five-year contract period. An IDIQ contract establishes a maximum quantity and value but does not necessarily guarantee that every authorized vehicle will be ordered.
The award was a significant milestone for UV Country, a veteran woman-owned small business based in Houston, Texas. The company had previously completed smaller General Services Administration and State of Texas contracts.
“This new Special Forces project is our largest contract by far,” Tracy said when the award was announced.
The selection also provided a notable real-world endorsement for Kawasaki’s early sport-utility side-by-side. The Teryx had only entered the market for the 2008 model year, and the 2009 model brought electronic fuel injection and several important drivetrain updates.
Why the 2009 Kawasaki Teryx Fit the Mission
The 2009 Kawasaki Teryx 750 FI 4×4 combined a relatively compact chassis with four-wheel independent suspension and a liquid-cooled, fuel-injected 749cc V-twin engine. Its combination of utility capacity and recreational performance distinguished it from slower, work-focused utility vehicles of the period.
Key production-model features included:
- Fuel-injected 749cc V-twin engine
- Selectable two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive
- Front differential lock
- Four-wheel independent suspension
- Front disc brakes and a sealed rear braking system
- Two-person side-by-side seating
- Rollover protective structure
- Tilting cargo bed rated for 500 pounds
- Maximum towing capacity of 1,300 pounds
SOCOM vehicles could be configured or modified for their intended missions, so they should not be assumed to have remained identical to showroom-stock Teryx models.
A Significant Chapter in Kawasaki Teryx History
The military contract arrived at an important point in the development of the side-by-side market. Although the original Teryx was sold primarily as a recreational utility vehicle, its SOCOM selection demonstrated that the platform’s compact size, V-twin power and agility could also support specialized applications.
For a closer look at the production machine behind the contract, read our trail-tested 2009 Kawasaki Teryx 750 FI Sport review. Our review covers the model’s electronic fuel injection, revised CVT, adjustable Kayaba reservoir shocks and other improvements introduced for 2009.
More information about current Kawasaki side-by-sides is available in our Kawasaki UTV coverage or from Kawasaki.
