Babcock and Supacat partner for British Army Light Mobility Vehicle bid

Published Jul 22, 01:46 PM UTC

Babcock International has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with British defence SME Supacat to collaborate on the Light Mobility Vehicle (LMV) competition, which aims to replace the British Army's outgoing Land Rover Defender. The agreement builds on their joint work on the Jackal 3 programme, completed earlier in July 2026. Babcock's proposed solution is the General Logistics Vehicle family, based on the Toyota Land Cruiser LC70 platform, available in medium wheelbase, long wheelbase, and utility variants. The partnership combines Babcock's FTSE 100 scale with Supacat's expertise in vehicle design and manufacturing, as demonstrated by the Jackal and Coyote vehicles. Both companies emphasize strengthening sovereign capability, UK supply chains, and sustaining skilled jobs. The LMV programme seeks a compact, deployable general-purpose vehicle to fill the gap left by the Defender's withdrawal from frontline service.