Babcock and Supacat begin Jackal 3 production in UK

Babcock International Group and Supacat have officially launched the production of 70 High Mobility Transporter (HMT) Jackal 3s for the British Army, Report informs via Defence Today.

A manufacturing facility located at Babcock’s Devonport site has been specifically designed to produce 62 of the vehicles, while Supacat’s manufacturing facilities in Dunkeswell will build the remaining eight. The production of these new vehicles is scheduled to be finished by the summer of 2024.

This project is among the initial agreements to implement the UK’s Land Industrial Strategy. Babcock, Supacat, the British Army, and the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) team have worked closely together to ensure that the vehicle meets all the operational and safety standards.

The Jackal 3 is an upgraded version of its predecessor that was delivered to the British Army. Supacat has worked on its development for over a decade to cater to the evolving needs of both UK and overseas customers.

The latest iteration of Jackal is equipped with several enhancements, including better crew protection and increased Gross Vehicle Mass, which allows it to carry more load. Although the Jackal 2 already set a benchmark off-road, the latest suspension in the Jackal 3 further improves its performance. While being a 4×4 vehicle, it can quickly be converted into a 6-wheel drive vehicle, doubling its load-carrying capacity.