Devon-based defence manufacturer Supacat has showcased two new military vehicles at the highly anticipated DVD2024 defence show at UTAC Millbrook.
The vehicles on display include the Tactical Light Mobility Vehicle (LMV) and a new Armoured Closed Cab (ACC) variant of the High Mobility Transporter (HMT), both designed to meet the British Army’s evolving needs for greater mobility, protection, and operational flexibility.
The Tactical LMV, developed for light role and Very High Readiness (VHR) forces, is a multi-role vehicle that combines reliable Toyota automotive components with a bespoke chassis and battle-tested “combat cell.”
Capable of handling over 40 operational roles, the LMV comes in both 4×4 and 6×6 configurations, offering a payload of up to 3,200 kg. Its ability to be internally loaded into helicopters such as the CH47, C130, and A400M aircraft, as well as underslung from a Merlin helicopter, makes it an ideal choice for rapid deployment forces around the world.
Phil Applegarth, Director and Head of Supacat, said:
“Our new Light Mobility Vehicle – Tactical (LMV-T) is the latest edition to the Supacat range, designed specifically with special forces and VHR Units in mind, fulfilling a ‘fly and drive’ capability, with its low weight and compact design enabling tactical loading into transporter aircraft systems whilst maintaining excellent payload capacity.”
Built with flexibility in mind, the LMV uses highly tested Toyota components, offering exceptional reliability and compliance with NATO multifuel standards. Its bespoke chassis delivers unmatched strength-to-mass ratio, providing superior payload capacity compared to competitors.
The modular combat cell design allows for a variety of configurations, including crew-served weapon mounts and space for mission-specific equipment, making the vehicle adaptable to different threat levels and climatic conditions.
The second vehicle being unveiled, the Armoured Closed Cab (ACC) HMT, expands on the proven HMT platform, with a focus on reducing the number of vehicle types used by the British Army under the MOD’s Land Mobility Programme. The ACC variant features a highly protected 4-person cab designed to provide blast and ballistic protection for a wide range of military operations.
Applegarth added:
“As UK MOD and other defence forces look to rationalise their fleets to achieve greater modularity and cost control, our Armoured Closed Cab (ACC) HMT has the potential to revolutionise the army’s ability to sustain operations with much reduced burden on logistics, maintenance, and cost.”
With a payload capacity of around 4,000 kg and integrated armour, the ACC HMT is designed to meet the demands of modern warfare. The vehicle is particularly suited for roles such as Ground-Based Air Defence, Anti-Armour, Ambulance, and Recovery Vehicle. By maintaining subsystem commonality with other HMT variants like the Jackal and Coyote, the ACC HMT ensures lower maintenance costs, easier training, and spare parts compatibility across the fleet, all of which align with the British Army’s goal of reducing fleet diversity.
Both vehicles will be on display at Stand OR-24a during DVD2024, where Supacat will highlight how its designs are helping the British Army meet its Land Industrial Strategy goals by increasing operational effectiveness while simplifying logistics and reducing costs.
Applegarth concluded:
“At the heart of our design for both systems has been MOD’s intent under its Land Industrial Strategy to simplify logistics whilst increasing effectiveness. We very much look forward to showcasing both platforms to our customers on Stand OR-24a today/tomorrow.”
For more details, visit Supacat at Stand OR-24a at DVD2024.
Hopefully this should be our next land vehicle, supacat is a British success story and the military need to make this the everything vehicle to replace the lot.
The platforms seems to be able used for alot and would like to see more ideas. It seems a good platform for quick deployment vehicles from aicraft for securing and providing local area denial until heaviet equipment arrives. Also like the idea of using it for land based anti ship platform like the US marines are doing. They did a rocket artillery himars like vehicle but didn’t look like it went anywhere.
Evwrytime this shows comes around, it never seems to get the coverage from most defence publications.
If JLTV is no longer under consideration by UK, the LMV looks a good alternative. Both 4 and 6 wheeled variants are far lighter than JLTV which weighs @ 10 tons in basic configuration. No idea of the relative costs.
Both these vehicles look excellent and Supacat is a real British success story.
Struggling to think of reasons not to get an order pipeline set up.
Be nice to see lickspittle politicians “go for it” and buy Brit.
Hopefully taking vehicles back to a more basic bare functionality which would be more robust for combat environments and ease of maintenance.
IMHO modern (civilian) vehicles are too ECU-centric.
I tried to help a neighbour get her VW hybrid working, I discovered that simply removing the battery and replacing it after charging, requires the battery to be re-registered with the ECU, same for other critical components AFAIK.
I assume that military vehicles would omit this type of over-engineering.
They both “look” the part, but I know nothing on respective capabilities and costs compared to other options.
If good value and reliable, outfit 4 Brigade with these?
Adding some regular CS CSS too would be splendid, thanks.
Superb vehicles and especially the LMT and the 6×6 variant. Shades of the old Toyota 70 6×6 built for patrols by Aussies in the Northern Territories. Can see both the 4×4 and 6×6 versions being very useful additions to the Littoral Strike Group (RM). The MoD need to be more ruthless when it comes to issuing RFI, RFQs etc. Learn from the French and Germans. The French never, never look overseas for suppliers (unless they simply do not manufacture it). Why can’t we do the same?
Because we are ruled by stupid.
Agreed.
Before making any further decisions on vehicles there needs to be some proper research around how to deal with drones. IEDs lead to the invention of the v shaped hole, now there is a need to also consider protection from above.
At the very same show, they are showcasing Dragonfire.
Isn’t dragonfire too big for the role? Designed more for anti ship missiles than fpv drones. Defence has joined the tech age where new threats are evolving faster than the traditional thinkers.
There was an interesting video about Ukraine using drones at a squad level whilst the US is only just starting to consider them at a company level, not adapting fast enough.
I wouldn’t have thought so mate, it’s being showcased at DVD which is for land vehicles.
Landceptor is on a land vehicle, it’s not however suitable for dealing with fpv drones.
Looking at some pictures of it with people next to it, it looks around 7-8 feet wide and around 6 feet tall, so pretty sizeable. Guessing it needs a dedicated vehicles for it which means it would be spread pretty thinly if a combat situation.
V shaped roof? 😜
This ACC HMT variant looks like what took the twin ASRAAM launcher used in Ukraine. Maybe this could also be developed for a 4-8 missile launcher or a shorad 30-40mm configuration particularly for base protection to complement Sky Sabre?
Could BAE’s new Tridon fit on the back?
The truck it’s mounted on seems a bit big, but I don’t have a very good handle on the scale of the HMT.
Failing that, something like that naval 30mm ground mount we sent to Ukraine might work.
Excellent this vehicle could easily become the go to multiple variant base vehicle for a huge number of pods/ payload
The LMV looks a very useful vehicle although I read somewhere its around 200 GBP+ which does seem too much but that may be another vehicle from another supplier. Long overdue to find our LR replacement and yes it must be British with the supply chain able to supply in a war situation. If we are in Poland for instance a half track version would be useful. Wheels just wont cut it off road because its all mud axle deep. At least it looks like lightness is priority.