Supacat and Babcock through to trials stage of LMV programme

Supacat has been shortlisted for the trials stage of the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) Light Mobility Vehicle (LMV) programme, in support of Babcock International. The other contenders include Ford and General Dynamics Land Systems UK, Iturri, Jaguar Land Rover, Rheinmetall and Mercedes-Benz, Team Grenadier and Team LionStrike.

The LMV programme will replace the British Army’s Land Rover fleet, which has served for decades, with a modern light vehicle built in several variants. It forms part of the MoD’s wider Land Mobility Programme. The competition is expected to be worth around £2 billion before VAT and could eventually cover more than 9,500 vehicles. The decision takes the Babcock and Supacat team forward to the next phase of the competition, in which the shortlisted vehicles will be put through trials.

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Phil Applegarth, Director and Head of Supacat, said: “We are delighted to be through to the trials stage in support of Babcock. The Land Rover has been the Army’s workhorse for generations and replacing it is a serious responsibility. Our engineers have spent more than 40 years designing vehicles that soldiers can rely on in the hardest conditions and we have already worked closely with Babcock on Jackal 3. That shared experience gives us every confidence in the vehicle we are putting forward and, in our ability, to deliver it together.”

Babcock and Supacat signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) earlier this year to work together on the Army’s Land Rover replacement. Babcock’s entry is the General Logistics Vehicle (GLV), a family of vehicles based on the Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series and offered in medium wheelbase, long wheelbase and utility versions. The two companies have committed to delivering a sovereign capability backed by a British supply chain.

Why British suppliers will be integral to delivering the LMV programme

The partnership follows the two companies’ work together on the Jackal 3 programme, which delivered high mobility vehicles to the British Army and was completed earlier this year. Supacat brings to the team more than four decades of experience in designing and building vehicles for the most demanding conditions, with more than 1,000 delivered into service around the world.

Supacat launched its own light mobility vehicle design at the DVD defence vehicle show in 2024. That work gives the company direct engineering knowledge of the light vehicle role, including the Toyota components on which the GLV is also based.

Nick Ames, Chief Executive of SC Group, Supacat’s parent company, said: “This is very welcome news for Supacat and for our workforce and suppliers in Devon and across the UK. The LMV programme is an opportunity to build the Army’s next light vehicle in Britain, with a British supply chain, in line with the Defence Industrial Strategy.

“Supacat has a proven record of delivering vehicles to the British Army on time and of supporting them through their service life. We believe that makes us the right partner for Babcock and we look forward to proving it in the trials.”

Which other teams are through to the trials stage of the LMV programme?

Seven industry teams have advanced to the next stage of the UK Ministry of Defence‘s Light Mobility Vehicle (LMV) competition, according to industry reports. This moves them closer to a potential £2 billion contract to replace ageing Land Rover and Pinzgauer fleets.

The seven remaining bidders include Team LionStrike, Team Grenadier, Babcock and Supacat, Ford and General Dynamics Land Systems UK, Rheinmetall and Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar Land Rover and Iturri.