Boost to jobs in Devon thanks to major order with defence company and MoD
Babcock International will be working with Devon-Based Supacat on the new order of 70 High Mobility Transporters
Last updated 9th Jun 2024
A defence company is teaming-up with a Devon-based engineering company to build brand-new 'High Mobility Transporters' for the Ministry of Defence.
Working in collaboration with Devon-based Supacat, Babcock International will be delivering HMT 400 series machines to the British Army.
This initial order of 70 machines isn't the end of the deal, however, with production set to rise to as many as 240, if they are needed by the MoD.
The contract is to be delivered between Supacat’s manufacturing facilities near Honiton where 10 new jobs will be created, and Babcock International's Devonport site in Plymouth, where 90 new jobs will be created.
Named ‘Jackal’ by the British Army, the HMT 400 series is a supremely versatile platform with unparalleled cross-country performance. 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 HMT platform vehicle has also proven itself internationally and is in service in Denmark, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, and Estonia - and with other markets in the pipeline, we could see more investment come into the South West in the very near future.
Tom Newman, Chief Executive of Babcock’s Land Sector, said: “This order is fantastic news for both Babcock and the local community in Plymouth. As a world-class engineering partner, we are delighted to be taking a key role in the production of this new phase of the Jackal platform, a truly British designed and manufactured vehicle. We are proud to be playing our part in supporting the British Army’s Land Industrial Strategy by securing critical industrial skills and capabilities and enhancing social value, including the creation of 90 new jobs.
“This new contract shows how British industry can work collaboratively to rapidly respond to defence requirements and deliver in short timescales. The HMT 400 series is also not only a battle-proven vehicle but a fantastic export asset in its own right, and our chosen build location in the freeport zone of Plymouth will enhance its export prospects.”
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.”
Babcock International worked with Supacat to meet the UOR demand for Afghanistan when over 600 vehicles were assembled at their facility at Devonport.