The Israeli Army is converting its D9 armored combat bulldozers to operate by remote control, according to a report in Strategy Page. The 62 ton bulldozer, armored with an Israeli created armor kit, has been used by Israel for urban warfare and combat operations since the 1960s. Called "Black Thunder", the remote control D9 was secretly developed three years ago and saw action in the recent Gaza war. The cab contains electronics and radio gear needed to run the dozer remotely, and several cameras and sensors are mounted on the outside. An operator, sitting in a nearby armored vehicle or truck, views several flat screen displays and operates the controls.
Although the IDF pioneered the use of special explosives to blast entry holes through walls to allow troops to quickly get to their objectives, the D9 proved an even more effective solution, breaking down walls. In early 2003, the U.S. bought nine 62 ton D9 armored Caterpillar bulldozers into Kuwait for the Iraq campaign. Often fitted with a machine-gun and sturdy enough to survive roadside bombs and several RPG hits, the bulldozers have increasingly become a target for enemy attack.