These engines have gained worldwide acceptance in military applications requiring reliability, durability and maintainability in a range of 50 to 400 hp.

The 3-53 (100 hp) engine is used extensively in SD-2 aircraft spotting dollies with the 4-53 powering US Air Force MJ-1 aircraft hydraulic test stands and US Navy P-16 onboard firefighting vehicles.

The 6V-53 (210 hp) powers the widely used M113A1 and M113A2 family which has evolved into the 6V-53T (275 hp), powering the upgraded M730 Chaparral and M113A3 vehicles. The US Marines LAV (8 x 8) is also powered with the 275 hp version.

Foreign manufacturers have also selected the 6V-53T to power their vehicles including MOWAG Piranha, United Defense, LP, co-production programmes for new M113 vehicles in Pakistan and Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle (AIFV) vehicles in Turkey.

Repower of M113, A1 and A2 and AMX-13 vehicles in a number of countries has utilised the engine at horsepower levels from 265 hp to 275 hp with several countries having tested vehicles up to 350 hp. The 6V-53T is NATO certified to 350 hp. This version includes after-cooling and a glow plug system for unaided starting to -25°F. The glow plug system can be adopted by any existing 6V-53 military engine. This horsepower was selected for the US Air Force 60K aircraft loader programme.

Detroit Diesel Corporation has concluded a development programme to raise the 6V-53T to a new technology level. With the adaptation of the updated DDEC IV electronic system and intercooling, the 6V-53T after-cooled 350 hp engine has been uprated to 400 hp.

This new level of horsepower of over 1.25hp/in3 displacement will allow vehicles to achieve added weight while still meeting or exceeding the mobility and speed of other lead vehicles on the battlefield.

Various M113 series vehicles are currently being tested with a 400 hp tunable diesel engine. Electronics allows the user to select up to three horsepower levels to match vehicle weight to horsepower.

The Canadian Army has recently selected this engine for their Ml 13 APC Life Extension Programme.