British Jackal reconnaissance vehicles rolled through Warsaw as part of Poland’s Armed Forces Day parade, highlighting close cooperation between the UK and Poland within NATO.
The vehicles were drawn from the UK’s Forward Land Forces Battlegroup in Poland, a NATO deployment designed to bolster deterrence on the Alliance’s eastern flank. Their presence in the Polish capital underscored both interoperability and a highly visible demonstration of solidarity.
The UK Defence in Poland mission noted that the Jackals were participating under the banner of the Forward Land Forces BG Poland, showcasing “UK–Poland defence cooperation during the Polish Armed Forces Day parade.”
The Jackal, a high-mobility reconnaissance and patrol vehicle, has been used extensively by the British Army in both counterinsurgency and high-intensity training environments. Its appearance in Warsaw served as both a ceremonial display and a reminder of the UK’s continuing commitment to NATO’s deterrence posture in Central and Eastern Europe.
Poland’s Armed Forces Day marks the 1920 Battle of Warsaw, when Polish forces defeated the Red Army in what is often called the “Miracle on the Vistula.” Against the backdrop of ongoing tensions with Russia, this year’s celebrations carried additional weight, drawing contributions and observers from NATO allies including the United Kingdom.
Jackals on the move through Warsaw ❗️
Part of the FLFP – Forward Land Forces BG Poland NATO, showcasing UK–Poland defence cooperation during the #PolishArmedForcesDay parade 🇵🇱🤝🇬🇧#StrongerTogether #UKinPoland #Defence #WeAreNATO@Natobgest pic.twitter.com/TF4zxvIF2Z
— UK Defence in Poland (@UKDefencePoland) August 19, 2025
The Jackal
The Jackal 2 is a high-mobility weapons platform designed for patrol and fire-support roles, particularly in Afghanistan. It features a unique air-bag suspension system that provides rapid movement across rough terrain and can be adjusted for stability during firing or increased clearance over obstacles. Heavier than its predecessor for added protection, the vehicle is armed with a General Purpose Machine Gun for crew defence and can carry either a Heavy Machine Gun or a Grenade Machine Gun as its primary weapon. The forward-mounted gun ring offers a full 360-degree sweep of fire, while the related six-wheeled Coyote tactical support vehicle expands its role.
Procured to replace vulnerable Land Rover Wolf WMIK and Snatch Land Rover platforms, the Jackal 2 addressed shortcomings in blast protection. The Snatch Land Rover, once common in patrol roles, proved inadequate against improvised explosive devices, drawing criticism as unsafe for troops. By contrast, the Jackal was designed specifically to meet the British Army’s demand for a fast, agile, and heavily armed vehicle able to avoid conventional, ambush-prone routes while maintaining combat effectiveness.
Built on the HMT 400 design by Supacat, the Jackal 2 is produced under licence from Lockheed Martin with contributions from several contractors. Universal Engineering builds the chassis, Cummins provides the diesel engine, Allison supplies the transmission, and Fox Racing Shox manufactures the suspension. Jankel Armouring Ltd designed the blast and ballistic protection as well as the shock-mitigating seating, while Fujitsu and Smartgauge Electronics deliver the vehicle’s electronic systems. The open-topped design offers enhanced visibility and supports a variety of weapon systems including a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun, 7.62 mm GPMG, or 40 mm grenade launcher.
Capable of reaching 80 mph (130 km/h) on roads and sustaining 49 mph (79 km/h) across rough ground, the Jackal combines speed with survivability. Its hull incorporates advanced armour protection, including plating under the crew compartment and on vehicle sides. The vehicle’s manoeuvrability and stand-off firepower are intended to provide an additional layer of protection by reducing exposure to IED threats, though crews have still suffered casualties from such attacks. With a mass of 6,650 kg, a three-person crew, and modular composite armour kits, the Jackal 2 remains one of the British Army’s most versatile patrol and reconnaissance vehicles.
Positive stuff but a long way from the three armoured and one Infantry divisions of the late 80s BOAR
And the Russian army is an even longer way off the once massed armies of the Warsaw Pact..
It is very true, everything is contextual, I do think people are getting a we bit over the top when it comes to Russia, it’s very interesting how people tend to be influenced by previous impressions..even though Russia is essentially a bit backwards and has armed forces that could not overcome a very poor nation with a GDP of 190 billion, a population of 37 million, no navy to speak of or modern airforce. Yet we have mass panic that it can somehow dominate the EU with its is 20 trillion dollar GDP and the UK with 3.6 trillion GDP and a joint population of over 500 million people and some of the most advanced manufacturing in the world and 23% of the worlds wealth and power… when it’s own population is 143 million, GDP is 2.7 billion and it’s industrial base is essentially antiquated. The bizarre part is the same people tend to then dismiss china has a backward nothing nation, when it has a gdp of 19 trillion dollars, a population of 1.4 billion, a tec and industrial base that is advancing all the time as well as over 50% of the worlds ship building industry as well as owning or building 129 port facilities across the globe and numbers wise of total major surface combatants and submarines the biggest navy on the planet, that’s launching a tonnage of warships equivalent to the RN every 2-3 years..it’s also a nation with a serious chip and beef with the western world as well as the last bastion of communism all mixed in with a bizarre fascist level of national exceptionalism…but apparently it’s all ok because they are backwards and have demographics problem….
Good to see a presence. Though I think the Union flag is very far right ( sarc ) and should be reported to the RMP.
RMP notified!
“Don’t confuse your rank with my authority!”
A small gesture but it will be noticed in Moscow. It’s important to keep up the diplomatic pressure on Putin. Healey’s visit to Odesa and the UK declaration that we will contribute ‘reassurance’ forces to Ukraine ports is clever and important move in the chess game. It sends a clear signal to Putin that following any deal if Putin tries to creep into Odesa he will meet UK resistance; he knows that we know he has no intention of stopping at the Donbas.
The issue i have is that the 3 Regiments that use this vehicle in the Light Cavalry role used to operate CVRT Scimitar, supported by other CVRT variants.
As useful in CI, SF, and off road Jackal may be, surely it isn’t suited to the European theatre for use by once Formation Recc Regiments?
Seems a backwards step by the RAC.
What equivalents do other ENATO armies have in the light recc role?
It always seemed to me to be a great vehicle for airmobile forces being deployed to say Africa. As for is it good for Europe, I remember a conversation with an old recce guy and he was very much of the fast small and armed with a machine gun brigade…. He felt anything else was wasted on recce and just encouraged recce units to start fights they were not there for.
Plenty of history in the 20c ( especially WW2 ) of armies downgrading their cavalry and recce units.. the Germans famously ditched the Puma as over aggressive crews started taking on tanks and the British army started removing the turrets from their armoured reconnaissance vehicles, the Inns of Court used a Sawn Off Daimler without a turret and taking the turrets of Stuart tanks was common ish in the field.