Supacat, Navistar team for UK’s protected mobility fleet

Supacat and Navistar Defence have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to form a team to deliver collaborative future support to the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MoD’s) protected mobility fleet. The MoU was announced during the MoD’s Defence DVD vehicle show.

The partnership will enable the companies to integrate their existing Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) based support structures to enhance combined capabilities on offer as vehicles are brought back from Afghanistan into the Army 2020 core fleet. It will also allow them to start preparing for a Strategic Support Supplier (SSS) type support arrangement to enable the UK MoD to adopt industry-led solutions for managing fleet support and achieving efficiencies.

The UK MoD recently confirmed that Supacat’s Jackal and Coyote platforms and Navistar’s MXT Husky will be brought into the core fleet to form part of the British armed force’s equipment plan for the next 10-15 years. Under the MoU, Supacat and Navistar would have the capability to cover nearly 1,000 total vehicles in service delivered to the UK MoD through the UK Defence Equipment and Support’s Protected Mobility Team.

The UK MoD has purchased over 600 Jackal and Coyote vehicles based upon Supacat’s HMT vehicle, and 300 Husky vehicles based on Navistar’s MXT platform. The Coyote and Husky variants were procured as part of the Tactical Support Vehicle programme with Coyote fulfilling the light role and Husky, the medium.

Nick Ames, managing director, Supacat, said: ‘We see this proactive step as a means to deliver cross platform efficiencies required by the MoD, while providing flexibility by putting the vehicle OEMs in the driver’s seat. In addition, the alliance offers the UK MoD an early opportunity to further inform the Strategic Support Supplier concept.’

Robert Ward, regional manager, Navistar, added: ‘We feel this MOU will lead to strong foundations for a relationship enabling us to offer strong, flexible and comprehensive service to the MoD. We look forward to working with the MoD and preparing for SSS arrangements to meet their needs.’

Supacat currently supports over 800 vehicles, more than 100 of which are internationally operated, while Navistar Defense operates in the UK, US and Afghanistan to support the MoD’s Husky fleet.