Armored bulldozers are a standard tool of Combat engineering battalions, and the IDF has gained some notoriety for their use of armored tractors in the Al-Aqsa Intifada , Operation Defensive Shield, and their involvement in the demolition of orchards and residences and the consequential death of Rachel Corrie. 

The armored D9, as developed and modified by the IDF, provides armor protection to the external hydraulics and operator cabin. The operator is protected by bulletproof glass to protect against sniper fire. The fitted armor package adds roughly 10 additional tons to the weight to a so-equipped D9. Like many customized packages, individually modified D9s may be found with disparate features, such as crew-operated machine guns, smoke projectors, or grenade launchers. 

The Israeli Combat Engineering Corps have used the D9 for digging moats, clearing terrain obstacles and engineering tasks. The D9's have also been used to clear landmine fields and booby-trapped areas. The heavy armour installed by the IDF allows the D9's to work under heavy fire in dangerous battle-zones. The Israeli armor kit proved itself well, as no D9 operator was killed during the 3-year long al-Aqsa Intifada. 

The Israeli armored D9, a.k.a Duby (lit. bear) has been used in standoff situations with armed Palestinians barricaded in buildings and rigged them with explosives and booby-traps. In order not to risk Israeli soldiers, the D9 shook the house until the occupants surrendered and then razed the structure in order to detonate and bury any explosives inside. This method was largly employed (with great success) in Jenin after 13 Israeli soldiers were killed by a combined ambush. This method was also used in Hebron: the IDF used the armored D9 to stop the local Hamas leader, Bassal Qawasameh; the later was killed by the collapsing house after shooting on the D9 (see photo from this incident).

The United States Army has purchased several armor kits from the IDF and used them to produce similarly equipped D9s. These have been used to clear destroyed vehicles from roads, to dig moats, erect earthen-barriers and construct field fortifications. It was also used to destroy a house which hosted snipers who shot at an American base (similar to the Israeli usage). There were some reports about the use of large bulldozers against Iraqi trenches during the first Gulf War. 

This is an American D9 and D10 bulldozers that was armored by IDF for the Israeli Combat Engineer Corps.  Engineered for demanding work. The D9 durable construction is made for tough working conditions. It keeps material moving with the reliability and low operating costs you expect from Cat tractors. The 3408E engine, when matched with the torque divider and field proven powershift transmission, will provide years of dependable service.

Some modified Caterpillar Dozers of the IDF have received two different types of smoke dischargers (one of them is TAAS CI-3030). The installation of the smoke-dischargers also differs in the number of smoke dischargers used. Some vehicles carry two (one pointing forward, the other one backward - is the case with both types of smoke dischargers), while others seem to carry only one or even none at all.

They also got a roof hatch on the left side of the vehicle roof. Possibly this is the Urdan-cupola at least on some dozers. One some cupolas there vision-blocks. Furthermore on some of the cupolas can be seen a M240 MG mounted.

Different types of armour-kits are used on this Dozer but it is also possible that these armour-kit types are an indication that there are different dozers (D9/D10).

The D9's primary working tools are the blade, affixed to the front and controled by 4 hydraulic arms, and the optional ripper, which can be attached to the back. The blade is mainly intended for earthmoving and bulk material handling: pushing up sand, dirt and rubble. It also can be used to push other heavy equipment such as earthmoving scraper pans, and in military applications, main battle tanks. The rear ripper is intended for use in loosening rockey ground and ripping out larger stones. It can also break frozen ground. 

The D9 has undergone several generations of engineering enhancements. The current version is the D9R but the older models such as the D9N and D9L are still common. The L, N and R models of the D9 are visually very similar, differing primarily in the design of their internal systems. 

The size and weight of the larger track-type tractors dictate that they are used primarily for major projects. The D9 is most commonly found in use in construction, forestry, mining, waste, and quarry operations.