MOD FOLLOWS UP LAST YEAR’S PROCUREMENT FROM BRITISH DEFENCE GROUP SUPACAT WITH NEW ORDER FOR FIFTY-THREE JACKAL 3 EXTENDA SERIES OF HIGH MOBILITY TRANSPORTER
Devon-based defence engineering group Supacat has received its second order in 18-months from UK MOD, this time for fifty-three (53) Jackal 3 extenda series of the High Mobility Transporter (HMT), a versatile platform developed for use by global Special Forces and the British Army .
As with last year’s order for seventy Jackal 3 variant , the extenda variant , has an increase in payload and capable of speeds of 120 kph, will be manufactured at Babcock’s Devonport facility in the Freeport zone and Supacat’s facility in Dunkeswell, Devon.
This second batch of vehicles is an amendment to the original contract signed in February 2023, which provides additional vehicles up to 240 of the light armoured vehicles should operational requirements demand.
The HMT extenda Mk3 (Jackal 3) is the latest development of the operationally proven, highly capable HMT platform. Delivering superior payload capacity with exceptional off-road performance and operational transportability, the extenda Mk3 is in a class of its own. Supacat’s modular design philosophy provides a range of configuration options at production and the flexibility to re-role the base platform throughout the lifetime of the vehicle with a variety of mission modules and protection levels available to meet changing demands. In service with Special Forces across the world, this next iteration, HMT extenda Mk3 offers an entirely unique capability that allows the user the choice of either a 4×4 or 6×6 wheel drive vehicle delivered by one platform in left or right hand drive. This highly versatile design enables the configuration of the system to meet specific mission-based demands.
Named ‘Jackal’ by the British Army, the HMT series of mobile platforms is a supremely versatile system with unparalleled cross-country performance. Originally, developed in the 1990s, the Jackal builds on the success of Supacat’s original All Terrain Mobility Platform (ATMP). With its convertible ‘Extenda’ configurations and common base platform, Supacat’s HMT range has a worldwide reputation as formidable off-road vehicles. This latest batch will be named Jackal 3(E) to signify that it is the Extenda variant.
The vehicle was brought into service under urgent operational requirements (UOR) to provide British forces in Afghanistan with an off-road patrol and fire-support vehicle with increased performance, replacing variants of Land Rover which previously fulfilled the role. Since then, the British Army’s fleet has fully utilised the HMT platform in both 4×4 and 6×6 configurations, becoming integral to its land tactics and operations. Supplied with an optional mine blast and ballistic protection kit, the HMT platform can also be fitted with a variety of mission specific load beds, weapons, communications, ISTAR (intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance) and force protection equipment to suit a wide range of operational roles.
This contract consolidates Supacat’s well established relationship with Babcock, initially developed to meet the UOR demand for Afghanistan when over 600 vehicles were assembled within a three-year period.
Phil Applegarth, Director, Head of Supacat, said: ” Firstly, we are enormously proud that Supacat’s Jackal 3 ‘extenda’ is now adding to the Army’s Land Fleet which will help support CGSs intent of increasing lethality with a modular high mobility platform. We have demonstrated the modularity and the ease of integrating specific mission winning systems and we look forward with continuing our collaboration with the UK MoD and our industry partners in the near future. Secondly, we are enormously pleased that our partnership with Babcock and Devonport continues to produce Jackal 3 and now the Jackal 3 ‘extenda’, exemplifying The British Army’s Land Industrial strategy and the huge benefits to both the UK and local economies through social value.”.
Babcock’s Land Sector Chief Executive, Tom Newman said: ““This contract cements the success of the Jackal programme and delivers a critical boost to the British Army’s fleet with a vehicle that is the most capable and versatile in its class.”
“Babcock teams play a broad and critical role supporting capabilities across the UK’s armed forces; the production of 53 new Jackal 3 Extendas is an excellent example of this and at the same time securing 100 jobs in the South West region.”
Pictured above (left-right): Major General Lizzie Faithfull-Davies CBE
Pictured above (left-right): Nick Ames, CEO, Supacat and Tom Newman, CEO, Land and UK Aviation Babcock International Group