ISTEC to integrate weapon systems on 53 Jackal 3 Extenda variants

Above: Supacat Jackal 3 with ISTEC weapon integration solutions fitted.
Courtesy ISTEC
 
ISTEC has provided robust weapon integration solutions for crew-served weapons such as the L7A2 GPMG, M2 HMG and other machine guns, across Land, Sea and Air domains. They also have an extensive operational record supplying Universal Gun Mounts (UGMs) for key vehicles such as WMIK, Mastiff, Husky and previous versions of the Jackal platform used for Land operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
    
In September 2024, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) awarded Supacat a contract for 53 Jackal 3 Extenda vehicles, which is a variant of the High Mobility Transporter (HMT) series. This order followed a previous procurement in February 2023, when the UK MoD contracted Supacat to produce 70 Jackal 3 vehicles. The Jackal 3 Extenda offers enhanced payload capacity and can reach speeds up to 120 km/h.  

Its modular design allows for configuration as either a 4×4 or 6×6 vehicle, providing versatility for various mission requirements. The Jackal series has been integral to past British Army’s operations, particularly in Afghanistan and excels in roles requiring high mobility and versatility. Following the order for the first 70 Jackal 3 vehicles, Supacat partnered with Babcock International Group to support the production, which further cements the relationship between these two organisations.

ISTEC will be supplying their globally renowned UGM and swing arm weapons integration systems for the GPMG and other crew-served weapons. The UGM is capable of accepting a range of light, medium and heavy weapons together with their dedicated soft mounts and, in addition, can be readily fitted with an adaptor to allow mounting of anti-armour weapons and even a 20mm cannon. The UGM is designed to provide a solid, backlash-free firing platform when clamped allowing for fine adjustment via a fine control Traverse and Elevation mechanism (T&E). This provides exceptional single-shot accuracy coupled with the ability to rapidly engage or track targets. The UGM is also modular, permitting the attachment of a variety of fitting kits and ancillaries, from frontal armour to folding interface equipment.

Mick Coulson, Managing Director of ISTEC said: “We have a long and successful history of working with Supacat and are extremely pleased to be supporting them again with our highly effective weapons integration solutions on this important project. I believe it is a testament to the quality of our products and support services that we deliver that Supacat has again chosen our UGM and swing arm solutions for the Jackal 3 Extenda variant. We look forward to working with them on this project and hopefully many more in the future.”

Lizzie Jones, Operations Director Supacat said: “We have a fantastic working relationship with ISTEC and have used their superb weapons integration solutions on multiple Supacat projects for nearly 20 years. We are really pleased to continue that relationship and provide the best possible weapon mount capabilities for the Jackal 3 Extenda Variant.”

ISTEC Services Limited is a British company founded in 1989 with operationally proven experience in the design, manufacture and supply of complex weapon integration solutions and smoke discharger systems (SDS) for military platforms.