A specialist vehicle company based in Honiton has secured an order to build 70 armoured Jackals for the MOD.

As well building 70 vehicles, the contract will create 10 jobs within Supacat itself and 90 at Babcock’s facilities in Devonport.

Supacat build whats called a Jackal by the British Army. The HMT 400 was originally developed in the 1990s and builds on the success of Supacat’s original All Terrain Mobility Platform (ATMP).

The vehicle will be used at Devonport dockyard in Plymouth once built.

Produced in 4x4, 6x6 and convertible ‘Extenda’ configurations, Supacat’s HMT range has a worldwide reputation as formidable off-road vehicles and is in use with specialist and other armed forces worldwide.

The British Army’s fleet has fully utilised the HMT 400 platform, becoming integral to its land tactics and operations. 

Supplied with an optional mine blast and ballistic protection kit, the HMT 400 platform can also be fitted with a variety of mission specific load beds, weapons, communications, ISTAR (intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance) and force protection equipment to suit a wide range of operational roles.

This contract further builds on Supacat’s well established relationship with Babcock which was initially developed to meet the UOR demand for Afghanistan when over 600 vehicles were assembled through their Devonport facility within a three-year period. 

Nick Ames, chief executive for Supacat, said: "This is an enormously important contract win for us. Primarily it further evidences our customer’s confidence in our HMT 400 product after 20 years of service.

"Furthermore it gives us a platform to secure potential export orders and thereby shows how investment in UK products can provide benefit to the wider UK economy. It also allows us to broaden and deepen our relationship with Babcock as a world class engineering partner.

“Above all, this contract win is the result of the unstinting belief and passion of our staff in the product. It is through their hard work and dedication that the business is here to deliver this contract and take the confidence to continue to develop more battle winning and lifesaving equipment in the future.”