UK companies team for Mastiff vehicle contract bid

Three UK companies – Morgan Advanced Materials, Ricardo, and Ultra Electronics – have formed a partnership to bid for the continued support and upgrade of the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MoD’s) Mastiff family of vehicles. Morgan will lead the group and is bidding on the programme as prime contractor.

The Mastiff family includes the Mastiff Protected Patrol Vehicle, Ridgback (4x4 variant) and Wolfhound (cargo resupply variant) fleet of vehicles. The exclusive partnership led by Morgan will bid on the contract to convert the protected mobility vehicles to fit into Force 2020 structures by mid-2016.

Martin Fausset, managing director, Ricardo UK, said: ‘Ricardo is extremely pleased to be joining forces with Morgan and Ultra in what represents a highly effective and all-British partnership, drawing together world-class engineering capabilities and extensive experience in military vehicle design, development, manufacture and overhaul.’

Morgan Advanced Materials’ Composites and Defence Systems business (formerly NP Aerospace) has designed, developed and integrated UK-specific, specialised armour protection and electronic systems into the entire Mastiff family of vehicles from base platforms purchased from the US.  Morgan also implemented and operated the spares support processes, including configuration management, stocking and supply chain management, which kept the fleets running during combat operations.

Ricardo will draw on its experience as the as the initial design, development and engineering leader of the Foxhound vehicles, manufacturing all 376 units ordered to date. The company was also prime contractor on the Vixen and RWMIK+ upgrade programmes. 

Ultra Electronics will bring to the team its experience as a Tier 1 supplier into the defence sector. The company is currently under contract to provide multiple electronic systems for the Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme and Scout SV development.