Final Jackal 3 rolls off the line for the British Army

Babcock has completed its Jackal 3 delivery programme for the British Army, with the final vehicles rolling off the production line at Devonport in Plymouth, the company stated.

The company has built and delivered 123 Jackal 3 and Jackal 3 Extenda vehicles in partnership with Supacat, a defence engineering SME. The final vehicle to leave the line was Supacat’s six-wheeled Extenda variant, which will undergo testing before joining the British Army’s operational fleet. According to Babcock, completion of the programme provides the Army with one of the most versatile high-mobility weapons platforms in its class, with the Jackal 3 family suited to reconnaissance, patrol and logistics tasks.

Louise Atkinson, Chief Executive of Land and Mission Systems at Babcock, was quoted in the press release as saying: “The British Army needs a highly practical weapons platform with exemplary off-road performance, and with Supacat’s Jackal 3, we’ve delivered a fleet of vehicles that meets this requirement. To have reached this milestone demonstrates Babcock’s commitment and expertise in delivering high-quality military vehicles to the armed forces. This critical programme required a large amount of collaboration, and I’d like to thank everyone for their tireless work in making it a success.”

Phil Applegarth, Director and Head of Supacat, was quoted in the press release as saying: “We are all delighted to have collaborated with Babcock on the successful manufacture and delivery of this important British Army programme. By combining Babcock’s extensive expertise in defence support and production with our own innovative design capabilities and agile approach, we have delivered together the latest Jackal variants to the British Army. This programme is a great example of what can be achieved through strong collaboration, and we are incredibly proud to have played a role in enhancing the Army’s fleet with these highly capable vehicles and supporting UK defence.”

Major General Lizzie Faithfull-Davies, Director Land Environment, National Armaments – Material, was quoted in the press release as saying: “This marks a significant milestone with the completion of the Jackal 3 (Extenda) platform build programme. Building on the successful delivery of the initial 70 Jackal 3 vehicles, this enhanced capability reflects our continued commitment to providing the Army with highly capable, adaptable mobility on operations. This achievement is testament to the strength of our enduring partnership with Babcock and Supacat. Their responsiveness, engineering expertise and collaborative approach has been central to delivering a platform that meets operational needs while maintaining pace and quality. We look forward to continuing this close relationship as we develop and sustain capability into the future.”

The Jackal has served with the British Army since the late 2000s, valued for its off-road mobility and open-topped configuration in reconnaissance and fire support roles across a range of operational theatres. Defence Minister Lord Coaker was quoted in the press release as saying: “These vehicles, built right here in Devonport, will give our forces one of the most capable high-mobility platforms available. The Defence Investment Plan reconfirms the vital role that land vehicles play in our armed forces’ capability – ensuring land forces can seize or defend ground in all environments and conditions. It is exactly this kind of collaboration between British industry and our armed forces that helps support local industry and demonstrates that defence is an engine for growth.”