Defence giant Babcock is developing an off-road vehicle as part of a new MoD programme
South West defence giant Babcock and carmaker Toyota are developing a new vehicle that could replace the British Army’s Land Rover fleet. It comes as the Ministry of Defence (MoD) looks to phase out use of the vehicle over the coming months as part of a new so-called Light Mobility Programme.
The proposed replacement will be known as the Babcock General Logistics Vehicle (GLV) – and will be based on Toyota’s Land Cruiser and Hilux.
A network of SMEs across the UK will supply specialist components for the GLV and it will undergo significant military‑specific modifications in the West Midlands ahead of use.
Babcock recently hosted an engagement event at its Defence Battlelab in Dorset, bringing together around 30 suppliers to discuss the upcoming requirements for the vehicle.
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.”
The Army has used Land Rovers for around 70 years and last year more than 5,000 remained in service across the UK military.
In March, the MoD said the retirement of the Land Rover marked a “significant milestone” in the evolution of the its mobility capabilities.
Defence minister Luke Pollard said: “The Land Rover and British Army share an incredible history and the image of a Landy in Army livery is truly iconic.
“As we look ahead to the future of light mobility vehicles, it is fitting to pay tribute to this extraordinary fleet that has served our Armed Forces so faithfully.”
Over the decades, several bespoke Land Rover models were developed exclusively for military use, including:
- The Series IIA Ambulance: designed to carry four stretchers and a medic;
- Series IIA Pink Panther: designed for use in the desert by the SAS, it was used for special operation missions and long-distance reconnaissance;
- Amphibious SIIA 109”: a prototype of a vehicle that could be used for sea landings;
- and V8 Centaur Multi-Role Half-Track which was created with a track taken from the Scorpion light tank and represented an attempt to merge road vehicle with a tank.
