Babcock reviews future vehicle platforms with UK SMEs at Defence Battlelab

Image courtesy Babcock

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) recently announced it was retiring its longstanding workhorse after 70 years of service as part of the upcoming Light Mobility Vehicle programme. In anticipation of the requirement, Babcock, in strategic collaboration with Toyota, has developed the Babcock General Logistics Vehicle (GLV) – a robust family of vehicles based on the globally renowned Toyota Land Cruiser and Hilux platforms.

The vehicles will undergo significant military specific modifications by Babcock in the West Midlands to prepare them for the demands of operational service.

Central to the GLV family is a network of UK leading Small-Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) which will play a vital role in supplying the specialist components which make the family of vehicles such a compelling product. 

The engagement event, held at the Defence Battlelab in Dorset, brought together around 30 suppliers to discuss upcoming requirements for the vehicle platforms. It also outlined expectations for delivering a sovereign solution which will be a cornerstone of military operations for years to come. 

The day builds on the recent launch of Babcock’s SME Engagement Charter which has been designed to foster a more accessible, fair and collaborative defence ecosystem.  The Charter provides a vital bridge between policy ambition and practical delivery across the defence enterprise, driving national capability and local growth.

Chris Spicer, Managing Director for Babcock’s Engineering and Systems Integration business, said: “The Army’s Land Rover has earned its retirement – and with the General Logistics Vehicle, we’re building on its legacy with a product which will provide soldiers with a tough, reliable and practical platform to support a wide range of mission-critical tasks.  

“We’re ensuring soldiers have a vehicle suited to modern operational requirements and by working with the UK’s brightest SMEs, we’re creating and sustaining high quality jobs within our supply chain and contributing to the UK’s defence dividend.”